March 7, 2022
Dear Members of the R.S.U. No. 67 Community,
R.S.U. No. 67 has received $3,433,280 in funding from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER lll). The district submitted an application for use of these funds after soliciting feedback from stakeholders via a survey in the spring of 2021.
Twenty percent of these funds, $686,866, have been earmarked for evidence-based activities to address learning loss, implement summer learning and enrichment programs, and implement comprehensive after-school programs. These programs will respond to the impact of COVID-19 on students’ academic, social, and emotional needs.
The remaining funds, 2.7 million dollars, are earmarked for three projects to improve our school facilities to reduce the risk of transmission. The first project is a remodel project for Mattanawcook Jr. High School which would allow for expansion of the existing cafeteria space. This space would support students in lunch and also provide a great deal of flexibility for use for other purposes such as intervention, band, etc.
The second project is to add a multi-purpose room attached to the gym at Ella P. Burr. Currently, during lunchtime the gym is unusable for Physical Education and Music classes. This new space would provide flexibility for scheduling classes for students as well as a space for larger group projects. In addition, the new space could be accessed by community groups.
The third project is to relocate the district office to the Mattanawcook Academy site by placing an addition onto the school. This project addresses the need to relocate staff members due to deteriorating conditions of the current office and poor air quality. In addition, the new space would be equipped with a room that could be used for small group instruction, student tutoring, adult education, community use, etc.
When staff members have been relocated, the existing portables which house the district office would be removed. This would provide additional parking for Ella P. Burr in response to the parent parking issues which currently exist. In addition, it would allow for expansion of the Ella P. Burr School playground and potential greenspace for our youngest learners.
In order for these projects which are desperately needed to occur, we need community support. This is an opportunity for the district to complete these building projects at no additional cost to the local taxpayers. There will be a public hearing on April 14 at 6:00 in the cafeteria at Mattanawcook Academy followed by a referendum vote in each town on April 26. Please vote yes for these projects to support our students.
Sincerely,
Jean Skorapa, Superintendent of Schools