The board of RSU 10, based in Rumford, votes to consider buildings for in-person learning

More than 30 people attend Monday’s Regional School Unit 10 board meeting at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford. People came to comment and listen to the board as they made their decision to explore using the former Mexican Police building on Recreation Drive and the basement of the Apostolic Church in Mexico to house Mountain Valley Middle School classrooms and in to be considered. The middle school building was closed Oct. 8 after air quality tests showed high levels of mold. Students moved to online learning on October 15th. Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times

RUMFORD — The Regional School Unit 10 board voted unanimously at Monday’s meeting to advance the use of the former Mexican Police Department building and the Apostolic Church of Mexico basement to house Mountain Valley Middle School classrooms.

The middle school at 58 Highland Terrace in Mexico was closed Oct. 8 after air quality tests showed high levels of mold. Students moved to online learning on October 15th.

Directors also added an amendment Monday to their original vote regarding the use of the two buildings, adding that air quality assessments, architectural studies and leases will be part of their consideration of the two buildings.

The Apostolic Church on Brown Street in Mexico, seen Monday, is one of the construction sites where the Regional School Unit 10 board is considering sending Mountain Valley Middle School students to in-person learning. The middle school building was closed Oct. 8 after air quality tests showed high levels of mold. Students moved to online learning on October 15th. Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times

The change to the original vote was pushed by Sumner Principal Kristen Chapman, who said her concern was that “due process is followed” in the board’s decision-making process.

Principal Erin Hinkley of Buckfield also spoke about the process of selecting buildings for students to return to in-person learning.

“We want the children to live in a safe and healthy environment, but we also need to be smart about how we do it. We need to look at all of our options and take the time to really make sure it’s in the best interest of the students,” Hinkley said.

The former Mexican police building, seen Tuesday, is one of the construction sites where the Regional School Unit 10 board is considering sending Mountain Valley Middle School students to in-person classes. The middle school building was closed Oct. 8 after air quality tests showed high levels of mold. Students moved to online learning on October 15th. Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times

Seven people from the crowd of over 30 spoke during the public comment period to express concerns about how the process of closing the middle school building was handled and what the future situation of in-person learning will look like for middle school students.

Mountain Valley High School graduate Alyvia Theriault said at Monday’s RSU 10 board meeting at the high school that she was concerned about the possibility of the high school and Mountain Valley Middle School having a separate schedule to accommodate middle school students become ‘classrooms at the high school. Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times

Mountain Valley High School graduates Alyvia Theriault and Aiden Gordon were concerned about the possibility of the high school and middle school students having separate schedules to accommodate the middle school students at the high school.

“Not only will a split schedule completely change the lives of students here and complicate things, but the vast majority of high school students also have jobs and other commitments that would be affected by this decision.” Many are also involved in athletics. How does this work for them? “How do the practice plans work?” Theriault asked.

Gordon, who works to “make money on the side,” has a friend at MVHS who has to work. “He has to pay his bills for his family, provide food and donations for his family. I’m concerned that splitting the days in half could impact his job,” Gordon said, adding that a split schedule isn’t fair to high school seniors.

Superintendent Deb Alden said later in the meeting that double sessions or split shifts to accommodate high school middle school students was a “backup idea.” “We really don’t want to do that. We don’t want to do double shifts, but we rely on face-to-face teaching, and that’s a possibility,” Alden said.

Another issue that Amanda Provencher, a parent of a student at Meroby Elementary School in Mexico, questioned and Principal Ed Bulger of Rumford was whether the school’s water is safe to drink.

Devin Roberts, the district’s building, grounds and transportation director, told the board and meeting attendees that the water in the MES and Rumford Elementary School buildings is “absolutely” safe to drink.

Sumner Regional School Unit 10 Superintendent Kristen Chapman, third from left, said Monday she was concerned that “due process was followed” in the board’s decision-making process about where Mountain Valley Middle School students will attend in-person classes. become. From left are directors Peter DeFilipp, Erin Hinkley, Chapman and Darcy Klein. Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times

He explained that schools’ water is tested for lead every year and that any time they receive reports of contamination, they are “required by the state to communicate (those results) by email, mail or any means possible.” ship,” said Roberts.

Both elementary schools had some findings with lead in the water “about two years ago” and they “immediately mitigated those issues,” Roberts said.

“Right now I don’t have high readings on RES or MES, so I’m not sure where this (concern) is coming from. If I need to provide Maine quality water, I certainly can,” Roberts said.

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