STRONG — Members of the MSAD #58 elementary staff met with school board members last Friday afternoon at the Strong Elementary School after a district workshop.

Typically, the school board meets annually with the high school faculty. For the first time in many years the board assembled with elementary staff to discuss the financial forecast and what’s to come in years ahead in terms of options.

Increased district valuation and a decline in enrollment may result in some changes in the way the district is run due to decreased state subsidy.

Over the past month or two, Superintendent Quenten Clark developed a list of eight options for the communities and board to consider. He explains that there are many other options to be developed, or ways to combine any of the eight listed.

The first option is titled “Do Nothing” and is the wish of some. However Clark notes, “Do Nothing” does not mean doing nothing, “(it) requires significant reduction in services or large tax increases.”

Many options were discussed that afternoon. Some new options and ideas were also developed. It was understood by the majority at the meeting that something needed to be done.

In a very open, sometimes humorous, sometimes more dramatic meeting, board members and staff exchanged ideas understanding that for every pro there was a con and as Clark stated, not everyone will like what’s decided. Clark noted that these types of discussions will occur during the upcoming budget talks as well over the next five years.

Cost saving measures such as consoli- dating students by grades in varying capacities was discussed. Having a district-wide middle school in Kingfield is one option. Moving all K-2 students to one school, all 3-5 to another and 6-8 to a third was discussed.

The future of the high school was mentioned and ideas such as closing MTA and keeping 9th and 10th graders at the elementary school and tuitioning older students was heard as just one example. Going back to K-12 in each town was another item of discussion and doing nothing with the high school was again another option.

Clark mentioned that the high school was a different animal and he’d like to someday hire a consultant to help them decide the best path for high school education.

The world will not end if we do nothing today, but we need do to do something, Clark said.

Board chairman Mike Pond, stressed the importance of Clark retiring from the district in one year and mentioned how difficult it would be for a new person to fill his shoes at a time when drastic change was needed. There was a general agreement that members should get some form of a plan going before Clark’s departure.

The meeting in Strong concluded with two rounds of applause, one from the faculty commending the board for its open communication, and one from the directors in appreciation of the staff.

In a special school board meeting held after the staff meeting, Clark announced that they received grant approval for a pellet boiler for the Phillips Elementary School.

Director Alan Morse said that in the future he’d like the board to discuss the “Internet policies on classroom instruction” policy that was passed. Pond said that it could be brought up after the budget was complete in four or five weeks.

Morse also commended Mt. Abram principal Brenda Steven for her course of studies handbook and in particular for mentioning “students as tutors.”

Members from the Outdoor Management, Maine Guide Class gave a digital presentation of their proposed annual class trip. The trip involves overnights in the outdoors under the instruction of MTA’s Barry London and another guide.

Leading the presentation was MTA senior Jake Carlton who earned a round of applause for an outstanding presentation. Unanimous approval was granted by the board.

Steve Parrett’s Spanish class trip to Costa Rica was also unanimously approved after his presentation.

Chairman Pond recommended that they table a request for the senior class trip to Portland because no seniors were available to provide a presentation at that time.

Clark and various school board members met with residents in Kingfield last Monday and in Strong on Tuesday concerning the future of the district’s schools. School board discussion concerning this topic will continue at a regular directors’ meeting on Thursday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. at Mt. Abram.