RSU 34 2025-2025 Budget Development Survey and Information
RSU 34 has started its budget process. This year has proved to be sustainably difficult. Several factors are making this process difficult, though the decline in student enrollment and special education needs and costs have risen to the top. A responsible step is having Old Elementary School educate all K-5 RSU 34’s students and operate an Early Childhood Center, serving all RSU 34’s Pre-K students (as is soon required by the state), assuming case management services for 3-year-olds from Child Development Services (CDS). This center would operate at either Alton Elementary or Viola Rand School. In this model, the RSU 34 School Board would follow school closure considerations outlined in the statute for what to do with the empty school.
The RSU staff and RSU board are working diligently to provide excellent educational opportunities to the RSU students while protecting taxpayer appropriations. Residents are strongly encouraged to participate in the budget process to help determine the best path forward. There are several ways to accomplish this:
Complete the online survey.
In addition to the online survey, there will be opportunities for public comment at upcoming RSU 34 School Board meetings and Budget Workshops. All these meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Leonard Middle School Cafeteria:
Budget Workshop: March 5, 2025
Budget Workshop (if needed): March 12, 2025
Regular School Board Meeting: March 19, 2025
Budget Workshop (if needed): March 26, 2025
Budget Workshop (if needed): April 2, 2025
Budget Workshop (if needed): April 9, 2025
Regular School Board Meeting: April 16, 2025
The RSU staff has worked and will continue to work on providing as much information as possible to the elected officials of RSU 34 and each RSU 34 community. The document Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Development Process was presented to the Bradley Town Council on February 25, 2025. To view this presentation, please visit the Town of Bradley Facebook Page or the Town of Bradley YouTube Channel. The RSU staff also created an overview of the facility at Alton Elementary and Viola Rand School.
These budget considerations are complex, and more information and decision-making is required. However, if the RSU Board determines that the Viola Rand School in Bradley is to close, a ballot question will be brought forward to the Bradley voters at the June 10th Annual Referendum. This question will provide the cost savings generated with the closure. The voters will be asked to accept or reject the closure. If the voters support the closure, the process will move forward; if the voters reject the closure, the school will not close, and the cost savings lost due to this decision will be borne entirely by the taxpayers of Bradley; this cost will not be shared among the entire RSU.
If additional questions or comments are needed, please reach out to Superintendent Matthew Cyr or Assistant Superintendent Jon Doty. You may also call the administrative offices of RSU 34 at 207-827-7171.