CARIBOU and LIMESTONE, Maine — While Limestone Community School is looking into options for possibly bringing back high school classes this fall, RSU 39 officials have sent an offer to the school for a proposed reduction in tuition for Limestone students who choose to attend Caribou High School.
During the May 6 meeting of the RSU 39 school board, superintendent Tim Doak said that he sent Limestone Community School officials an offer for a 14 percent discount in tuition.
Since RSU 39 held its meeting before the Limestone school board met on that same day, Doak was not yet aware of whether Limestone officials have discussed or taken action on his offer.
In a previous meeting, Doak had said that RSU 39 receives around $11,000 per student for tuition and estimated that if 12 students from Limestone attend Caribou High School in fall 2020 instead of 24, that could lead to a difference of $132,000 in revenue.
“With a 14 percent discount, we would receive $9,500 in revenue from each student,” Doak said on Wednesday. “I was told that Limestone has received the proposal.”
The next day Limestone board chair Kathie Beaulieu confirmed that the district has received RSU 39’s offer but has not yet made a decision in relation to the proposal.
“The Limestone School Committee is still reviewing all options regarding tuition offers from multiple districts and the possibility of bringing the high school back to Limestone,” Beaulieu said. “A decision has not been made yet but we do expect a decision in the near future. We’re taking the time to carefully evaluate all options in the best interest of our students and community.”
Limestone Community School voted to officially withdraw from RSU 39 in November 2018 and reopened with pre-K-eight classes in August 2019. RSU 39 now includes Caribou and Stockholm.
