February, March and early April are always demanding, as board members develop their budget recommendations for the new fiscal year that will begin July 1. They start with a draft prepared by administrators and adjust it, trying to meet educational needs while considering taxpayers’ welfare.
This year, board members are also replacing three major employees: Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer, whose resignation they accepted at their Dec. 9, 2025, meeting; Vassalboro Community School (VCS) Principal Ira Michaud, whose resignation they accepted at their Feb. 10 meeting; and the school’s head custodian, Paul Gilbert, whose resignation they also accepted Feb. 10.
Pfeiffer said Gilbert has been VCS head custodian for 26 years, as of February 2026. He is also a drummer; Pfeiffer calls him Ringo, referencing to the Beatles’ drummer, Ringo Starr. Board chairman Jolene Gamage remembered how excited her children used to be when he played in school concerts.
Michaud has been VCS principal since July 2022.
“It’s been great working with all of you,” he told board members and staff present at the Feb. 10 meeting. “It’s a wonderful school; it’s been wonderful working here with your kids.”
His reason for leaving, he said, is to be closer to his home and family in Damariscotta.
Pfeiffer became superintendent in August 2018. His position has been, at least in theory, part-time. He said later in the month that board members decided his successor will be a full-time employee, with three jobs: superintendent, curriculum coordinator and ESSA (federal Every Student Succeeds Act, passed in 2015) grant writer.
All three men intend to leave at the end of the current school year. The process of advertising for, receiving and reviewing applications for their successors (who could be either current employees changing jobs or new hires) is under way.
School board members also started discussion of the 2026-27 school budget on Feb. 10, hearing presentations from three Winslow or Waterville school department employees who also serve Vassalboro, Director of Technology Will Backman, Transportation Director Ashley Pooler and Finance Director Paula Pooler.
Backman is requesting a technology budget increase over the current year of a little less than $13,000, mostly to replace about 50 aged staff laptops that are beginning to malfunction. Some areas in the technology budget will decrease, he said.
Board members had multiple questions, many about alternatives to the technology used at VCS. Backman explained the value of the present system and equipment.
In the near future, he said, there will be a much bigger expense: the VCS phone system is eight years old, with a life expectancy of 10 years. He could give no cost estimate, but Pfeiffer warned board members that a new system will be “very expensive.”
The cameras at VCS are also nearing the end of their expected useful lives, Backman said.
Ashley Pooler is proposing an increase in the transportation budget of more than $141,000, about half for salaries and benefits. She described some of the extra training for drivers since the two school-bus-related fatal accidents in 2025.
Board members asked about bus purchases. Pooler and Pfeiffer said after the extra buses bought in 2020 with Covid funds, Vassalboro is now getting back into a regular replacement cycle, with one new bus scheduled for the 2026-27 budget year.
Another board question was when the new software that will let parents know where buses are would be available. The answer was that the part that lets central office staff track buses is already working, and the connection to parents is scheduled for the fall of this year.
Finance Director Paula Pooler talked about some of the smaller items in the draft 2026-27 budget, like the $500 designated for an ESL (English as a Second Language) program in case one is needed. Pfeiffer called the amount “a place-holder”; neighboring districts have robust ESL programs, but Vassalboro has not yet started one, partly because of cooperation among area superintendents to get students into established programs.
Another Feb. 10 presentation was from Gifted and Talented teacher Rod Robilliard, who enthusiastically praised his students and discussed plans for the program.
The March 10 Vassalboro school board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the VCS library. The 2026-27 budget, including major expense areas like regular and special education, will again be a main discussion topic.
Board meetings are open to the public, and agendas include a public comment period.
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