Budget Update

Looking ahead to the 2025-2026 school year, RSU 12 has worked diligently to develop a responsible and sustainable budget that continues to support high-quality education while recognizing the financial realities our communities face. The proposed budget for 2025-2026 is $28,627,733, representing a 5.1% increase over the current year’s budget.

Some facts to know about this budget

• High School Tuition has increased 10%

• The grades PK-8 budget has DECREASED by 1%

• State Subsidy and other revenue have DECREASED by $46,828

Despite these challenges, including shifts in state subsidy calculations, the RSU 12 Board of Directors has worked creatively and carefully to balance fiscal responsibility with our mission to provide the best educational opportunities possible. Our Board is also mindful of maintaining school choice, which remains an important request of the RSU 12 community. The RSU 12 Board of Directors unanimously approved the proposed 2025-2026 budget on April 11, 2025. The budget was presented at the RSU 12 District Budget Meeting on May 21, 2025 and endorsed overwhelmingly by voters. The school budget referendum takes place on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Please remember to vote. We encourage all residents of RSU 12 to participate in the referendum. Your engagement is vital to the continued success of our schools and students. At RSU 12, we remain deeply committed to working alongside our member towns to provide rich educational opportunities for every student. I sincerely thank you for your continued support and partnership. I hope you will make your voice heard at the polls on June 10.

RSU 12 Staff Appreciation Week

Each May, we take time to honor the incredible staff who make RSU 12 a great place for students to learn and grow. This year, more than ever, I am proud of the dedication, flexibility, and heart our team has shown. We recognize the vital roles each person plays. Our staff members go above and beyond—whether it’s ensuring healthy meals, leading schools with vision, supporting student health, or inspiring learning in the classroom. Every role matters. From the smallest acts of kindness to the biggest challenges we face together, our staff has consistently put students first. This year has brought new challenges and opportunities, and RSU 12’s team has stepped up in every way. During RSU 12 Staff Appreciation Week, let’s celebrate the dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment of our entire staff. Thank you for all you do to support our students, families, and one another. RSU 12 is stronger because of you.

RSU 12 teachers in grades K-3 gathered for half-day trainings to support the implementation of EL Education’s foundational reading skills block.  This portion of the EL Education program teaches young learners the fundamental building  blocks that make good readers.  Students practice letter identification, identify the sounds letters make, learn how to decode the sounds in a word, and practice writing the sounds they hear.  This collection of skills, when learned and practiced systematically, helps students build a strong foundation for reading and understanding as they encounter more and more complex texts.  Teachers and interventionists are meeting in small groups to review the program and its materials and deepen their ability to implement it in the classroom.

A small group of RSU 12 teacher-leaders and administrators met for two full days of training to deepen their understanding of the system of learning.  They learned how classroom climate, student  mindset, content knowledge, and complex reasoning strategies can come together to create ideal conditions for deep learning.  They learned how to design learning experiences to create those ideal conditions.  Furthermore, they discussed ways in which they can bring this learning back to share with all of the colleagues during future professional development days.

RSU 12 is also participating in the Emergent Literacy pilot by the Maine Department of Education, which provides training and resources for lead teachers to return to the district and train preK-grade 3 staff.  This program will help increase our capacity to support early and struggling readers to increase their vocabulary, understanding of print concepts, phonological awareness, and oral language development.

It finally feels like the spring season has arrived. The weather is a mix between rain and warm temps which the kids are loving! A few less rainy days would be nice so we can get outside and run off the extra energy that seems to come with the warmer weather! Along with the warm weather comes spring state testing! We started this week and will be testing on and off the next three weeks. 

This week is our school’s Celebration of Learning Night on Thursday, May 8 from 4:30-5:30. It’s always a wonderful evening where parents come out to see what their kids have been learning. Our PT/OT activities in the gym are always a huge hit either before or after students show what they’ve been doing in their homeroom classes. 

During Teacher Appreciation week our amazing PTA had surprises and small things for our teachers and staff each day as a small token of appreciation. This time of the year can be stressful, and the little gestures can make a huge difference. 

This final week we are wrapping up the year with some celebrations and fun. While the 8th graders were away on their annual trip out of state on Friday, Miss Andrea, Miss S and I cooked up a BBQ for our 6th and 7th graders and then they had some time together outside enjoying the sunshine while the rest of the school did step-up day. Our PreK will celebrate their year with a small assembly on Wednesday, June 11 at 12:45. On Thursday, June 12, students in grades PK-5 will have a field day with some middle school helpers and then later that night at 5:00 we will have our 8th grade celebration.

The year is coming to an end quickly and we have a lot of work to finish before June 13th!  At this point in the year, the 8th graders are looking forward to graduation.  To keep them engaged, they are helping plan our field day as they are the ones that run the events.  It is a great opportunity to show their planning, organizing, and leadership skills.   

Teacher Appreciation Week was wonderful!  We showed our appreciation to our teachers and all staff!  Our parents have provided us all with breakfast, sweet treats, and lunches.  The kids, have also made cards for teachers and picked many flowers from their parents’ gardens.  

Our annual Education Fair was held in May to showcase student work.  We had a full house with family and students observing everyone’s hard work.  It is our experience that parents love to come into school and explore the things their child is learning.  Kids love showing off their work to their parents.  Students made some amazing projects and amazed us with their ideas and abilities.  

The end of the year has included field trips and events.  The entire school went to Mr. Drew’s Exotic Animal Education Center in Lewiston.  ALL students, young and older,  came back excited because they were able to touch snakes, turtles, and lizards.  We also spent some time analyzing and drawing bugs with our presentation from Bernie Welch and Rosana.  They help the kids understand our ecosystems how bugs are interesting and important. 

I finally dared to believe that our winter weather was done until next November or December and created our end of the year calendar of events.  As is typical, the amount of school-wide and class events are substantial and it speaks to the business of schools as we exit the April vacation and sprint toward June 13th.  While it is an exciting time for students, parents and staff, it can also be exhausting for all of the same groups when you add in spring sports and other activities.  We have band concerts, end of the year field trips, Field Days and a plethora of other events that clutter up the calendar between now and June 13th. Until then, we’ve all got our track shoes on to keep pace with this wondrous race!

It is bittersweet to be celebrating the end of a wonderful school year filled with learning and fun.   Congratulations go to Lori Urquhart and Wendy Watkins, who are both retiring after long and impactful careers in education.  

During the last two months we had many activities, including our Learning Showcase, formerly known as the Night at the Museum.  This year, grades 3-8 and Ms. Watkins’ second graders changed the format to be a little bit less formal and showcased some of the highlights of student work throughout the year.  It was impressive to see the progression of work as students move through the upper grades and get ready for high school.  Also, our K-2 team put on a Family Math Night that was well attended.  

With spring comes baseball, softball, and track and field, which are all wrapping up.  It is always exciting to get outside and cheer our Wildcats on!  Our boys baseball team is in the championship game on Tuesday, and we wish them luck!  

Many field trips were planned as the weather warmed up as well.  Our third graders recently visited the Botanical Gardens, and the fifth graders went on their annual three-day trip to the Tanglewood Science Center.  The 7th and 8th graders went to Darling’s Marine Center to see the results of an earlier experiment with growing seaweed and  also took a trip disc golfing.  The 8th graders went to the Capital Area Technical Center and also to the Winthrop YMCA for an overnight trip to celebrate their movement toward high school.  

Mr. Robinson and the Drama Club put on their adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Endings, a great show that had the audience laughing and guessing.

In early May, we celebrated our Staff Appreciation Week with many activities and meals to thank our amazing staff.

Grades 3-8 participated in the Maine Through Year test in reading and math, and the 5th and 8th graders also took the Maine Science Assessment.  We are eager to see the results of everyone’s hard work.  

At the end of May, we celebrated Windsor Pride Outside Day, our annual day of caring for the Windsor campus.  Our orchard, gardens, and flower beds have never looked better.  

At our last assembly on  May 6 we celebrated our Students of the Month, Math Masters, Top AR Readers, and students with excellent behavior and attendance.  We were also thrilled to have Mr. Tuttle at the assembly to present the District Anti-Bullying Contest winner trophy to Zoie Elliott!  It made us all so proud to have Zoie’s message chosen to represent this important message.  

It will be with mixed emotions of pride and sadness when we send off our wonderful eighth graders on Thursday, June 12, with a celebration of their academic and civic achievements.  This class is truly one of a kind and have left a lasting positive impression on Windsor School with their scholarship, friendship, and leadership.

RSU 12 serves the towns of Alna, Chelsea, Palermo, Somerville, Westport Island, Whitefield, and Windsor.

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