February 26, 2020 Valley Unified Board Meeting

The Valley Unified Education Service Center Board of Directors met in Fort Kent on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 in the Library at Community High School.  A WOWL Channel 16 video of the meeting is available at bit.ly/2vqD5rs.

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Early Dismissal Today: Thursday, February 27, 2020

Due to the approaching Winter Storm, we are expecting afternoon commute conditions to be difficult for driving with high winds and blowing snow; therefore, all Valley Unified Schools will dismiss early at noon today so the buses (and student drivers) can get home safely.  There will be no afternoon Pre-K and the AM Pre-K students will remain at school until the noon release time.  All after school activities have been cancelled. 

Please be safe driving home this afternoon and evening.

Upcoming Valley Unified Board of Directors Meeting

The Valley Unified Education Service Center Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 in the Library of Community High School in Fort Kent, beginning at 6 PM.  To review the meeting agenda, go to bit.ly/32eLqus.   Public attendance is welcomed.

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Fiddlehead Focus Article on Straw Poll Results

To read Morgan Mitchell's Fiddlehead Focus February 13, 2020 article on the Written Ballot Straw Polls conducted at last week's Public Hearings concerning the recommended location of the proposed Valley Unified Regional School, click here or on the image below.  Please note that last week's straw polls fulfilled Step 6 in a 21-step process.

If the Maine Department of Education approves the site, the project will move forward to the educational vision and concept design phase.

Once a concept design is developed and a comprehensive cost analysis is completed and presented to Upper St. John Valley citizens, another straw poll at Step 12 and a final referendum at Step 13 will be held.

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Site Selection Straw Poll Results

Public Hearings and Written Ballot Straw Polls concerning the recommended site for the proposed Valley Unified Regional School were held this week on February 11 for the Madawaska School Department and MSAD #33 and on February 12 for MSAD #27.

Over 1700 Upper St. John Valley citizens attended the three hearings!

Thanks to all who came out to receive information, to get involved in the process, and to cast their votes.

Of 1702 votes cast, 1255 were in favor of the Frenchville 3A/3B site as the proposed location for the proposed Valley Unified Regional School and 447 were opposed.  Review the School Administrative Unit (SAU) and community-by-community tallies at bit.ly/2u0KEo8.

These results will be forwarded to the Maine Department of Education School Construction Team who will present the information to the State Board of Education.  The State Board holds final approval over all school construction sites.

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Special Meeting of the Valley Unified Board - Thursday, February 13, 2020

There will be a Special Meeting of the Valley Unified Board of Directors to reveal the straw poll results, beginning at 6:00pm at the St. John Valley Technology Center in Frenchville.  Please see the attached agenda. 

Click on the image above. 

Straw Poll Ballot Question

For those wondering just what they'll be voting on at the Public Hearings and Written Ballot Straw Polls to be held this week, the ballot question is posted below:

Please note that voting in favor of the recommended site for the proposed Valley Unified Regional School does not obligate the communities of the Valley Unified Educational Service Center to construct the school.

The outcome of the Straw Poll is intended only to help the State Board of Eduction determine if there is broad-based community support across the Upper St. John Valley for the recommended location of the school.

If there is broad-based support for the location, the Valley Unified Regional School Project will move to Phase II - Educational Vision Development and School Concept Design.

The Educational Vision Development will guide the School Concept Design which, in turn, will determine total project costs.

Total project costs for the construction of the new school versus keeping our current school facilities will provide the information necessary for citizens to make an informed decision about whether or not to support the construction of the proposed school.

The citizens of MSAD #27, the Madawaska School Department, and MSAD #33, through additional Public Hearings, Straw Polls, and local Public Referendums concerning the Educational Vision, the Concept Design, and Project Costs, will determine, at the conclusion of Phase II, whether to construct the school.

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Corrected Information

Please read the attached letter regarding social media and mail flyer incorrect information that has been circulating among community members.  If you read such incorrect information on social media, please feel free to use the following link to provide this information: http://bit.ly/VUfacts

Click on the image above.

What to Expect at This Week's Public Hearings/Straw Polls

Public Hearings and Written Ballot Straw Polls concerning the recommended location of the proposed Valley Unified Regional School are scheduled for the following dates, locations, and times:

• Tuesday, February 11 -  Madawaska Middle/High School Library - 6 PM *
• Tuesday, February 11 -  Dr. Levesque Elementary School Cafeteria - 7:30 PM
• Wednesday, February 12 - Fort Kent Community High School Cafeteria - 6 PM **

          * may be moved to cafeteria to accommodate turnout
        ** may be moved to gym to accommodate turnout

Each meeting will include:

• a 20-25 minute presentation concerning the Site Selection process; followed by
• a 20-25 minute question and answer period; and conclude with
• a 20-25 minute voting period. 

Please Note: These hearings and the straw polls are about the recommended location (and only the recommended location) of the proposed school, and do not obligate our local communities to construct the school.  

Please also note: Straw poll results will allow the State Board of Education to determine if there is public support for the proposed site.  Public support for the proposed site will allow the project to move forward to the educational vision development and school concept design phase.  

Please note further: While preliminary information concerning costs for repairs and upgrades to our current schools has been developed, has been shared with local School Boards/School Committees, and will be reviewed during this week's hearings, a comprehensive comparative cost analysis concerning current versus new school costs has not yet been conducted. 

Finally, please note: During the educational development and school concept design phase of the project, a comparative cost analysis will be developed and shared with the citizens of MSAD #27, MSAD #33, and the Madawaska School School Department who will determine whether the proposed school is built through additional public hearings, straw polls, and local public referendums concerning the vision, concept design, and costs.

To review the information that will be covered during the presentation and discussed during the question and answer period at each of this week's hearings, go to bit.ly/2UGvGyq.

Public attendance at these hearings is welcomed and encouraged.

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All Valley Unified Schools Cancelled for Friday, February 7, 2020

Due to the current winter storm that is expected to intensify overnight and throughout the day tomorrow, all Valley Unified Schools are cancelled for Friday, February 7, 2020.  Please note that all after school activities are also canceled for after school today.  If you must travel in the next 30 hours, please use extreme caution.

Details on Upcoming Public Hearings & Straw Polls

Public Hearings and Written Ballot Straw Polls concerning the recommended location (and only the recommended location) for the proposed Valley Unified Regional School are scheduled for the following dates and at the following times and locations:

• Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - Madawaska School Department - 6 PM - Madawaska Middle/High School - Library
• Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - MSAD #33 - 7:30 PM - Dr. Levesque Elementary School - Cafeteria
• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - MSAD #27 - 6 PM - Community High School in Fort Kent - Cafeteria

To review key considerations and a procedural outline for the meetings, go to bit.ly/3b7JVSy.  Public attendance is welcomed and encouraged.

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Citizen's Guide to Site Selection

Public Hearing and written ballot Straw Polls concerning the recommended location of the proposed Valley Unified Regional School will be held on the following dates at the following times and locations:

• Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - 6 PM - Madawaska Middle/High School Library - Library.
• Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - 7:30 PM - Dr. Levesque Elementary School - 7:30 PM - Cafeteria.
• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - 6 PM - Fort Kent Community High School - Cafeteria.

Review general information regarding the site selection process in our Citizen's Guide to Site Selection at bit.ly/39c3gR5.

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Public Hearing and Straw Poll Procedural Outline

Public Hearings and written ballot Straw Polls concerning the recommended location of the proposed Valley Unified Regional School are scheduled for the following dates and times at the following locations:

• Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - 6 PM - Madawaska Middle/High School - Library
• Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - 7:30 PM - Dr. Levesque Elementary School - Cafeteria
• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 - 6 PM - Fort Kent Community High School - Cafeteria

A procedural outline for the meetings is detailed in the image below.

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