RSU 57 Community Newsletter

May 1, 2025

Message from the Superintendent

Dear RSU 57 Community,

I hope this message finds you well and that you had a restful April Break. I also hope the first few days back have been smooth and productive as we begin the final stretch of the 2024–2025 school year.

I’m pleased to share that Staff Appreciation Week will take place next week, from May 5–9. I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks to every member of our RSU 57 team. Whether you support our students in the classroom, on the road, behind the scenes, or throughout our school buildings and campuses—you play a vital role in the success of our district. It is because of your collective unwavering commitment to our students, families, and schools that RSU 57 continues to move forward with strength and purpose. Your contributions do not go unnoticed, and I hope you take great pride in all that you have helped accomplish as we continue to prepare our students for success in an ever-changing world.

I also invite all community members to attend our upcoming Budget Review Session on Tuesday, May 6, at Massabesic Middle School. Voter registration will begin at 6:15 PM, and the budget review session will begin promptly at 7:00 PM.

Planning for the 2025–2026 school budget began back in December, starting with internal discussions among district administrators. Since then, we’ve engaged the public through a variety of forums—including School Board meetings, Finance Committee meetings, and a prior Budget Review Session—to ensure transparency and to gather valuable input from the community.

Many significant factors that influence the budget—such as insurance premiums and state funding levels—are beyond our local control. The state’s Essential Programs and Services (EPS) formula, which is intended to provide a baseline of financial support, presents ongoing challenges for large, rural districts like ours. The EPS model is primarily based on student enrollment and municipal property valuations. While our enrollment has remained steady, property valuations across our towns have increased by 63% over the past six years, leading to a decrease in the state funding we receive. This year alone, local valuations rose by more than 14%, while state aid increased by only 5%. These realities underscore the importance of community participation in the budgeting process. We encourage you to attend, engage, and make your voice heard.

Lastly, I’d like to share an important update from the RSU 57 School Board. Last night, the School Board held its second workshop to discuss the report, “Student Well-Being in RSU 57: An Analysis of Policy and Practice”. The session was attended by Board members, administrators, and staff. We were also honored to be joined by Walker Vivian, our School Board Student Representative and a junior at Massabesic High School. Walker offered thoughtful insight and meaningful feedback that will help shape future policies and practices related to student wellness. His full report is included below, along with the full student well-being report. Thank you, Walker, for your leadership and for representing your peers with such dedication.

Thank you all for your continued partnership in support of RSU 57. I am grateful for the strength of this community and all we continue to achieve together.

Sincerely,

Stephen D. Marquis, PhD.

Superintendent of Schools