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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