August 2017 • Link-22 • RSU 22POSTAL - Hampden-Newburgh-Winterport-Frankfort PATRON ECRWSS • Page 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID HAMPDEN, ME PERMIT NO. 2 RSU 22 • Hampden • Newburgh • Winterport • Frankfort 24 Main Road North, Hampden, ME 04444 August 2017 HA recognized at National JCL convention RSU 22 voters approve The Junior Classical League 2017-18 budget with (JCL) of Hamp- den Academy increased state subsidy received sev- eral honors at in August 1 referendum the National RSU 22 voters have approved the 2017-18 budget at the dis- JCL convention, trict Budget Validation Referendum on Tuesday, August 1. which was held The vote was 397 for the budget and 328 against. July 24-29 at Voters in all four RSU 22 communities supported the budget. Troy University The vote tallies were: Hampden, 249-230; Newburgh, 47-24; Win- in Troy, AL. terport, 84-68; and Frankfort, 17-6. Five Hampden The second referendum was needed because voters rejected Academy students the original 2017-18 budget at the first referendum on June 13, attended the con- 710 to 637. vention, including Hampden Academy Junior Classical League representatives at the Na- The original budget was published and approved at the Dis- Andrew Terry, trict Budget Meeting before the Legislature had approved its fi- Molly Swalec, tional JCL Convention—Front row (l. to r.): Audrie French, Noah Burby, and Aidan Babbitt. Back row: Molly Swalec, faculty advisor Ben John- nal appropriations for school funding. The original RSU 22 bud- Audrie French, son, and Andrew Terry. get included only $18.1 million in state subsidy; the final RSU 22 Noah Burby, and subsidy figure was $18.7 million, an increase of $566,000. Aidan Babbitt. They were accompanied one of the convention general as- Because of the lower state subsidy, the original budget includ- by the JCL faculty advisor, Ben Johnson, semblies for winning the “Best Print ed a 4.70% increase in the overall property tax assessment to the who teaches Latin at HA. Mr. Johnson Article” competition. The article, which towns. By contrast, the higher state subsidy reduced the overall also serves as state chair of the Maine appeared in the Maine Sunday Tele- property tax assessment in the revised budget to only 1.57%. Junior Classical League. gram on May 28, was submitted The August 1 referendum included an advisory question (Please turn to page 3) The HAJCL was recognized during asking voters if they thought the funding requested by the original 2017-18 budget was too high, too low, or acceptable. The response: 237 voters said it was too high, 106 said it was RSU 22 Board of Directors brings back too low, and 300 said it was OK. Community Relations Committee The RSU 22 Board of Directors recently ing on communications channels. We es- re-invigorated the Community Relations tablished the RSU 22 Facebook page as an ‘In the Heights,’ musical by Committee. It was the feeling of the Board updated method of getting information out that we were not doing enough to commu- to people (“Like” us on Facebook!), created ‘Hamilton’ creator, coming nicate our positions and the reasons for our a Frequently Asked Questions document decisions to the community. The committee to answer those most often addressed to HA PAC Nov. 30, Dec. 1-2 is comprised of Amanda Sidell, John Hol- items, and suggested multiple changes to In the Heights, an award-winning musical by Lin-Manuel mes, and Scott Cuddy. Mr. Cuddy is the the district website which Mr. Savage has Miranda, who later created and starred in the 2016 Broadway chair. Nate Savage, district IT coordinator, quickly put into place. Among these is the mega-hit Ham- is the staff assigned to the committee. placement of the RSU 22 Google calendar ilton has been From the policy on “Board Committees”, in the left navigation panel. The calendar selected as the the mission of the Community Relations also offers you the option of subscribing, Hampden Acad- Committee will be to “identify district so as events are entered onto the calendar, emy Drama communication needs and recommend they will automatically populate on YOUR Club’s fall musi- methods for disseminating information to Google calendar! cal for 2017. the public. The committee will formulate a In the future, the Community Relations The show will public relations plan that will include the Committee will be conducting surveys to be performed on November 30 and December 1 and 2 (Thursday, exchange of information and development determine what our community wants to Friday, and Saturday) at 7 p.m. in the HA Performing Arts Center. of good will with its communities.” know more about. We have already had A meeting for interested students will be held on Thursday, To date, the committee has been focus- (Please turn to page 3) August 31, at Hampden Academy. Audition materials will be available at that time Auditions will be held September HATT performs ‘Beauty and the Beast’ at PCA 11 and 12. The Walt Disney production of Beauty and the Beast came to In the Heights will be directed by life on stage at the Hampden Academy Performing Arts Center Jenn Guare, with Heidi Corliss as for three nights in July, thanks to the cast and crew of the Hamp- musical director and Rob Kissinger den Area Theatre Troupe (HATT). as technical director (set, sound, “It went very, very well,” said Rob Kissinger, English teacher lights, etc.). at Hampden Academy who directed the musical. “More than 250 “We’re excited to do In the people attended all three nights.” Heights,” they said. “The play has Mr. Kissinger said the community response was “fantastic,” universal themes of family and com- with attendance running about 25% better than previous years. munity and vibrant music, which “I think people are beginning to recognize that we have these makes it an exhilarating show for good, solid summer musical performances,” he said. “I think the all ages and backgrounds. It is also kids are making a name for themselves.” a play that will allow our students Mr. Kissinger said the cast and crew did an excellent job with and community to learn a lot about Beauty and the Beast, which ran for three nights, July 13, 14, a culture outside of our own.” and 15. In the Heights is a story about “The kids really rose to the challenge,” he said. “This was one Washington Heights, a largely His- of the best shows we’ve done.” panic neighborhood in upper Man- The cast was led by Lexi Buzzini and Jack Burridge in the title hattan, where a young store owner roles of Belle (Beauty) and the Beast. watches the joys and heartbreaks of Also in the cast were Aiden Babbitt as Gaston, Alex Ross as Lumi- Jack Burridge (left) and Lexi Buzzini perform the titles his tight-knit community as they ere, Hunter Spencer as Cogsworth, Reba Sands as Mrs. Potts, Josie roles in the Hampden Area Theatre Troupe production (Please turn to page 12) of “Beauty and the Beast.” (Please turn to page 2) Page 2 • Link-22 • RSU 22 - Hampden-Newburgh-Winterport-Frankfort • August 2017 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAMPDEN ACADEMY Welcome Back Hampden Bill Tracy, Principal Academy Students! 862-3791 I am looking forward to getting the 2017-2018 school year under way. The opportunity to get to know all of our students and families is something I have been anxiously awaiting since the end of the school year. There will be a number of familiar faces, having been a member of the community for the past 17 years. Don’t hesitate to come say hello or introduce yourselves; the better I know you, the more capable I will be at serving our students, school and community. One of my favorite things about a new school Fred Lower, former Husson coach, year is the chance to start fresh and re-establish who you are, including work habits, relation- ships, and drive. What great opportunities exist named athletic director at HA at Hampden Academy to be taken advantage of. Fred Lower, a history teacher at Previously, he worked for 11 I encourage each and every one of you to come in, Bangor High School who coached years as a social worker for Commu- Bill Tracy focused, to attain a rich education and experience the Hampden Academy football nity Health and Counseling Servic- at HA. No matter what your interests are, there are pathways avail- team last fall, has joined the staff of es of Bangor. able and caring, knowledgeable staff that can help you achieve your HA as athletic director and assis- He started goals. Advocate for your needs, be aggressive and own your education! tant principal. working We will be starting up very soon, so here are a few dates that will be He replaces Mike Bisson, who with chil- important to take note of: left to become assistant executive dren who • August 18th, 11:00 - 1:00, Freshman Orientation with our ASB director of the Maine Principals As- were in Student Leaders sociation. foster care • August 29th, first day of school for freshmen. Before coming to HA, Mr. Lower or group • August 30th, all students in school, grades 9-12. taught history at Bangor High homes; for Enjoy the rest of your summer and see you soon! School for 10 years and 7th-8th the last grade social studies at Center Drive seven years, —Mr. Tracy School in Orrington for one year. he ran a group home Fred Lower for CHCS. HA athletics committee seeks feedback on whether students Mr. Lower has an extensive coach- are interested in lacrosse as varsity or club sport ing career that includes 24 years of coaching boys basketball, girls Should Hampden Academy be crosse League—enough so that the a club sport at Bangor High School basketball, football, and baseball.