Proposed School Reorganization Would Spread Existing and Future School Debt Across All Member Towns.

The latest RSU plan would combine operational and capital debt into one regional budget if voters approve it this fall. Carrie Jones Jul 01, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Viridian Law. BAR HARBOR — One of the biggest changes in the latest proposal to reorganize Mount Desert Island-area schools isn’t about classrooms or governance. It’s about debt. Under the newest draft of … Continue reading Proposed School Reorganization Would Spread Existing and Future School Debt Across All Member Towns.

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news

Mount Desert Officials Divided as Regional School Reorganization Moves Toward Vote

Bar Harbor Councilors Worry About Potentially Incurring Other Towns’ Future School Construction and Renovation Debts Carrie Jones Mar 04, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Havana. MOUNT DESERT—A proposal to reorganize the Mount Desert Island school system will go before voters in June after the Mount Desert Select Board approved holding a special town meeting, even as some local officials said they do … Continue reading Mount Desert Officials Divided as Regional School Reorganization Moves Toward Vote

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schools

MDI Region School Committee Forms a Middle School Committee

Work Begins Again To Look Into Costs and Possibilities for Potential Island-wide (or Two Island-wide) Middle Schools Carrie Jones and Shaun Farrar Sep 10, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Paradis Ace Hardware. BAR HARBOR—A possible island-wide middle school is being looked at once again. It’s a continuation of work done over five years ago and more recently during the Mount Desert Island … Continue reading MDI Region School Committee Forms a Middle School Committee

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Uncategorized

Potential School Reorganization Vote Will Not Happen in November

Carrie Jones Jul 11, 2025 Share MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION—A school reorganization vote planned for November has been postponed according to School Superintendent Michael Zboray. Zboray sent out an email to AOS board members and town managers informing them of the decision to postpone a vote to potentially reorganize the schools within the district. There have been two forums about the potential reorganization so far. … Continue reading Potential School Reorganization Vote Will Not Happen in November

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Letters From Our Readers Nineteen MDI Hospital employees

opinion

Letter From a Reader

Rob Liebow Jul 06, 2025 Share LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY We welcome letter submissions to The Bar Harbor Story. For details on our policy, please visit our about page and scroll down or just visit here. The beliefs, opinions, and viewpoints expressed by the writers of letters to the editor and included here do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, opinions, and viewpoints or official policies of The … Continue reading Letter From a Reader

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Uncategorized

Across Maine, towns continue to grapple with school district reorganization

More than 40 towns have withdrawn from their school districts since the state’s 2007 consolidation push. Jun 17, 2025 Share By Kristian Moravec/Maine Monitor MAINE—As children played at recess during one of the final weeks of the school year, MSAD 58 Superintendent Laura Columbia explained how several towns began pushing to leave the school district this spring, mainly out of concern that their communities could lose … Continue reading Across Maine, towns continue to grapple with school district reorganization

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Uncategorized

State’s Preliminary Revaluations Put Trenton at $591 million

Cheer donation sent back, board also talks about school reorganization Carrie Jones Oct 03, 2024 Share TRENTON—The state of Maine has preliminarily decided that Trenton is worth approximately $591,950,000. That’s up by approximately $163 million from 2023 and $87 million from last year’s assessment. Trenton may be heading toward a revaluation in its property after receiving a preliminary revaluation report from the state. The town has … Continue reading State’s Preliminary Revaluations Put Trenton at $591 million

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schools

What Could Happen to School Debt if We Reorganize?

What About Real Property? Shaun Farrar Sep 28, 2024 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Side Treats. BAR HARBOR—How the transfer of an individual school’s property and the disposition of its debts to the Regional School Unit (RSU) would be handled under reorganization is still being hammered out by the district’s Reorganization Planning Committee (RPC). This topic was part of a reorganization update … Continue reading What Could Happen to School Debt if We Reorganize?

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schools

School Reorganization Planning Committee Gets Started

High School Budget Proposes 7% increase, public meeting April 3 SHAUN FARRAR MAR 15, 2024 Share BAR HARBOR––The AOS 91 School Board met on Monday night, March 11, in the high school library and among other business, heard from School Superintendent Mike Zboray. Zboray said that the Regional Planning Committee (RPC) is ready to begin its work. It had its first meeting Wednesday, March 13. … Continue reading School Reorganization Planning Committee Gets Started

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