RFQ for Engineering Services

The Valley Unified Board of Directors has begun it's search for architectural/engineering services for the preliminary analysis and planning through construction for a regional Integrated, Consolidated 9-16 Educational Facility in the St. John Valley in northern Maine. The selected firm will work with the Valley Unified Site Selection Committee, which is currently being formed according to the approved site selection process adopted by the board during their October 9 meeting.

All interested firms should submit a Letter of Interest and Statement of Qualifications to Benjamin Sirois, Executive Director, Valley Unified Regional Service Center, 84 Pleasant Street, Suite 1, Ft. Kent, ME 04743 to be received not later than 1:00 p.m. on November 30, 2018.

Please see the detailed RFQ by clicking the image below:

Valley Unified Enrollments

The following enrollment information was presented during the last Valley Unified Board meeting on October 9 and during the presentation to the State Board of Education on October 10.

Click on the image for enrollment slides. 

Site Selection Committee Nomination

On Thursday, October 11, 2018, a letter was sent to the town leaders of the communities that make up the Valley Unified Regional Service Center.  This includes Madawaska, Frenchville, St. Agatha, Fort Kent, Wallagrass, New Canada, St. John, and St. Francis.  The letter asked the town leaders to forward community nominations for the regional school site selection committee to their respective school boards/committees.  Click the letter below to see a sample of the letter sent. 

Blended Learning Interest Survey Results

During the month of September, high school learners in MSAD #27, Madawaska, and MSAD #33, were invited to participate in a Blended Learning Interest survey.  In the Introduction to the survey, learners were advised as follows:

The high schools in the Valley Unified Regional Service Center (MSAD #27, MSAD #33, and Madawaska School Department) need your input.  

We want to know the level of interest that exists among our students to participate in career education/special interest learning opportunities through a Blended Learning model.

In Blended Learning courses, a significant portion of the learning content is delivered online, and live face-to-face interactions between learners and learning facilitators occur on a regularly-scheduled basis.

We are interested in developing Blended Learning opportunities for our students that help them explore possible careers and that help prepare them for post-secondary study or work in those careers. 

Currently, our blended learning opportunities feature the PLATO web-based learning platform — an  easy-to-access (anytime, anywhere) technology-assisted instructional delivery system.

A list of 35 potential PLATO-based Blended Learning opportunities appears below.  Please review the list and mark any that you would genuinely be interested in.  Mark all the possible choices that apply to your interests and goals for work or training beyond high school.

Sixty percent of high school learners participated in the voluntary survey.  To view a summary of the survey results, click on the image below.

October 9 Valley Unified Regional Service Board of Directors Meeting

The Valley Unified Regional Service Center Board of Directors held its second regular meeting on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at the Madawaska Middle High School Library.  To view the meeting, click on the image below.

Site Selection Process Approved

During the second meeting of the Valley Unified Regional Service Center Board of Directors, educational consultant Gerald "Jake" Clockedile presented a proposed Site Selection Process, which was created using Chapter 61 Rules: State Board of Education Rules for Major Capital School Construction Projects and Chapter 60 Rules: New School Siting Approval as guiding documents.

Prior to approval there was discussion with the public regarding the 9 member appointment and why some school districts have different representative numbers.  Mr. Clockedile and Executive Director Sirois explained that the membership was created in a way to represent the districts appropriately.  Because MSAD33 has the smallest student population cost share, their representation was limited to 2, so that a representative from each Frenchville and St. Agatha could be considered.   The community of Madawaska represents a larger student population and cost share and would be represented by 3 community members.  MSAD27, which has the largest student population and cost share would have 4 members.  It was also explained that MSAD27 represents 5 different communities, and representation would have to include all communities.

In addition to the 9 community members, the process identifies 3 business partner representatives, 2 post-secondary education representatives, and three appointed board members from each School Administrative Unit, making a total committee of 17 members.

Mr. Clockedile also stressed that the Site Selection Committee is only an advisory board, and is tasked with bringing a recommendation to the Valley Unified Board.  It will be the role of the Valley Unified Board to approve that recommendation by a 7/9ths Supermajority vote.  Finally, that recommendation would be given to the Maine State Board of Education for the final approval.

After discussion, the Valley Unified Board voted to approve the Site Selection Process as presented.

   

Click on the image above to access the approved Site Approval Process.

Valley Unified Regional Board Meeting #2

The Valley Unified Board of Directors will meet for their second meeting on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 beginning at 6:00pm in the Madawaska Middle/High School Library.  All citizens looking for up to date Valley Unified information should make every effort to attend in order to stay informed.

Click on the image for a larger view.