Page 4 - Newsletter_Spring_2020

Academy, provides alternative educational programming
for students in grades 9-12. Students are referred to the
program and each of the member schools has a limited
number of student slots. The program, which opened in
the fall of 2019, consists of two teachers, an education
technician, and provides services for up to thirty students.

Tragically, the Summit Academy suffered a major fire in
January of this year after only four months of operation. January fire severely damages new Acadmey
While, thankfully, no one was injured, the building requires
significant interior restoration. The programing was moved
temporarily to the current Military Street Baptist Church
(The Church on the Hill) and then to a leased location while
work is done to rebuild The Summit. Although the Summit
Academy is still in its infancy, it has already proven to be a
successful addition to our offerings as we strive to meet the
needs of all of our learners.

Perhaps the biggest collaborative endeavor during
Superintendent Halliday’s tenure has been the Regional Integrated Collaborative 9-16 High School
project. The Maine Department of Education offered the opportunity for regional groups to apply for
funding for construction of a state of the art, regional high school that would include career and technical
education integrated within academic programming and opportunities for higher education programming
within the campus setting. If approved, the regional high school project, likely to cost approximately one
hundred ten million dollars ($110,000,000.00), would be funded primarily by the State. This competitive
process consisted of a two-part application process. Only three groups including the Southern Aroostook
Area Collaborative were finalists. While Valley Unified (Fort Kent, Madawaska, St. Agatha) received the
first go ahead to move forward with their project, since then, our collaborative group (RSU 29, RSU 50,
MSAD 70, MSAD 14 and Region Two) was also placed on the approved list in August of 2019. Two of the
member district school boards – MSAD 14 and RSU 50 have, subsequently, voted to not move forward
with this project. At the present time, RSU 29, MSAD 70, and
Region Two hope to be granted permission to continue with
planning for this one hundred million dollar plus, state of
the art, high school complex.

Further regional and collaborative efforts supported by
Superintendent Halliday include substitute trainings and
professional development opportunities. In addition, RSU
29 and MSAD 70 share a Director of Special Service and an
Assistant Director of Special Services.
Sample regional school interior.
It is clear that, with thoughtful planning, regional efforts can
successfully provide our area school districts with cost saving efficiencies and programming that benefits
both our educators and, most importantly, our students.

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