Steering Committee

Meeting Date: September 18

The Steering Committee will provide leadership and momentum to the Board during their deliberation to a final decision. 

In its first meeting, the Steering Committee discussed what “setting a new course for RSU 16 means.” Discussion points included:

• Maintaining our values but forging a new path with efficiencies and expanded opportunities.
• The communities understand the true condition of our schools and a commitment to improve and make the conditions better.
• Attention to a decision and a long-term plan that serves as a guiding document.

The Steering Committee heard an abbreviated history of why the 6th grade students were not placed at the middle school with the new addition. Financial factors for the locally funded construction removed the option for an exoskeleton to build a future second story and the planned footprint was reduced as the student population did not show the need for more classroom space.  The new entryway for the middle school and high school was a high priority.

Since the responsibility of the Steering Committee is to provide leadership and momentum, potential agenda items for the next sub-committee meetings were discussed.  Items will include; floor plans if we reduce to 2 elementary schools, cost driver updates, and strategic (long-term) plan development. It is recommended that the School Board make the decision of 6th grade placement at their October 16 meeting.

The Steering Committee discussed rather than using Scenario 1 and Scenario 3 vocabulary because not everyone knows exactly what that means, that we will be more clear and instead refer to the final two options as: 3 elementary schools option and 2 elementary schools reconfigured option.

All information is on the Futures website:https://www.rsu16.org/about/futures-task-force while we develop a new section for the Steering Committee.

Steering Committee membership: Todd Sanders, Amy Hediger, John Hawley, Randy Lautz, Sarah Robinson, Emily Rinchich, Mary Martin.