All schools in RSU 12 will have a two-hour delay this morning, Thursday, January 5th.
Due to the impending storm, all schools in RSU 12 will release at 11:30 am today, Friday, December 16th.
The RSU 12 Board of Directors meets Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 6:30pm. Please find the agenda and accompanying documents here, https://www.svrsu.org/documents/rsu-12-board-of-directors-agendas-and-backup/2022-2023/november-2022/391267
Maine Harvest Lunch for RSU 12 is coming up THIS Thursday the 22nd! It's a big day for local foods in our cafeterias. We will feature a local Maine Fish sandwich, roasted vegetables and an incredible Maine peach! The Maine Harvest Lunch promotes fresh, local food in school cafeterias and teaches our children and youth where food comes from – including local farms, gardens and greenhouses.
The Maine Harvest Lunch began in 2005 as a statewide event and 81% of Maine schools feature local foods during this weeklong celebration.
The agenda for the RSU 12 Board of Director's meeting on September 8, 2022 at 6:30pm at Chelsea Elementary School can be found at this link, https://www.svrsu.org/documents/rsu-12-board-of-directors-agendas-and-backup/2022-2023/september-2022/373795
Chelsea Elementary in RSU 12 has a Special Education Teacher Resource Room Opening
https://www.servingschools.com/job/znukhp/special-education-teacher-gr-6-8/chelsea/me
Public Release
School Year 2023 free and reduced-price meal benefit applications are available for families with students enrolled in
Sheepscot Valley RSU 12 which is participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Meals will be
provided to enrolled students at no charge in Maine public schools participating in the National School Lunch Program
due to State of Maine Legislation.
While meals are provided for no charge, it is still important to complete the School Year 2023 free and reduced-price
meal benefit application. Students may be eligible for additional benefits, such as the USDA pandemic EBT program.
The following household income guidelines for School Year for 2023 have been provided by the United States
Department of Agriculture:
Household Maximum Household Income Maximum Household Income
Size Eligible for Free Meals Eligible for Reduced Price Meals
Annually Monthly Weekly Annually Monthly Weekly
1 $17,667 $1,473 $340 $25,142 $2,096 $484
2 23,803 1,984 458 33,874 2,823 652
3 29,938 2,495 576 42,606 3,551 820
4 36,075 3,007 694 51,338 4,279 988
5 42,211 3,518 812 60,070 5,006 1,156
6 48,347 4,029 930 68,802 5,734 1,324
7 54,483 4,541 1,048 77,534 6,462 1,492
8 60,619 5,052 1,166 86,266 7,189 1,659
Each add’l member
+ 6,136 + 512 + 118 + 8,732 + 728 + 168
To apply, fill out a Free and Reduced Price Meal Benefit Application and return it your local school district. The
information provided on the application is confidential. Applications may be submitted any time during the school
year. A complete application is required as a condition of eligibility. A complete application includes: (1) household
income from all sources or Food Stamp/TANF case number, (2) names of all household members, and (3) the signature
and last four digits of social security number or indication of no social security number of adult household member
signing the application. School officials may verify current income at any time during the school year.
Foster children may be eligible regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside.
If a family member becomes unemployed or if family size changes, the family should contact the school to file a new
application. Such changes may make the children of the family eligible.
Households will be notified of their children’s eligibility status for free or reduced price meals. If any children were
not listed on the eligibility notice for families receiving SNAP, TANF or FDPIR, the household should contact the
school to have free meal benefits extended to those children.
If any child(ren) was not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact their local school district to have
free meal benefits extended to that child(ren).
Sheepscot Valley RSU 12 determining official will review the application and determine eligibility. If a
parent/guardian is dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official, they may wish to discuss the decision with the
hearing official on an informal basis or he/she may make a request either orally or in writing to the school district’s
hearing official.
For more information, contact:
Mike Flynn, director of student nutrition; email: mflynn@svrsu.org; phone 207-549-3621ext 2008
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and
policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including
gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American
Sign Language), should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s
TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-
8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program
Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online
at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-
17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The
letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged
discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and
date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
(2) fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email:
program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or
mental disability, genetic information, religion, ancestry or national origin.
Complaints of discrimination must be filed at the office of the Maine Human Rights Commission, 51 State House
Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0051. If you wish to file a discrimination complaint electronically, visit the Human
Rights Commission website at https://www.maine.gov/mhrc/file/instructions and complete an intake questionnaire.
Maine is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The RSU 12 Board of Directors meeting is on August 11, 2022 at 6:30pm at Chelsea Elementary School. Agenda and materials for the RSU 12 Board of Directors meeting can be found here, https://www.svrsu.org/documents/rsu-12-board-of-directors-agendas-and-backup/2022-2023/august-2022/361917
The RSU 12 Board of Directors meeting is on June 16, 2022 at 7pm at Chelsea Elementary School. Agenda and materials for the RSU 12 Board of Directors meeting on June 16, 2022 can be found here, https://www.svrsu.org/documents/rsu-12-board-of-directors-agendas-and-backup/2021-2022/june-2022/335685
Don’t forget! Voting Day is today!
On Wednesday, May 25th, at 6:30pm at the Chelsea Elementary School, the RSU 12 Board of Directors will be holding the RSU 12 District Budget Meeting. This town-meeting style meeting is the first step in a two-step budget process. RSU 12 citizens at the meeting vote on each cost center of the school budget. The second step of the process is on June 14th when citizens vote at local polling stations on whether or not they approve the budget that was decided on at the May 25th District Budget Meeting. You can learn more detail about the budget by going to this website, https://www.svrsu.org/page/rsu-12-proposed-budget-fiscal-year-2023. The RSU 12 Board of Directors encourages all RSU 12 residents to attend the RSU 12 District Budget Meeting on Wednesday.
More from our Farm to School Partnership about the May harvest of the month
Sheepscot Valley RSU 12 and its partners were awarded $99,853 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School Program to expand local food programs and support connections to students and their communities. Through this grant, school nutrition staff will receive additional support, education, and training to efficiently serve local foods and connect those efforts to agricultural education in the classroom and community. Coordination between the classroom and the cafeteria will promote healthy, local food choices for students to increase student engagement around food choices and to increase meal participation. As part of that grant, we are celebrating May's Harvest of the Month - Blueberries.
RSU 12 Board of Directors meets May 5, 2022, 6:30pm, Chelsea Elementary School. Agenda and information can be found here, https://www.svrsu.org/documents/rsu-12-board-of-directors-agendas-and-backup/2021-2022/may-2022/319767
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
AUDIT SERVICES
Regional School Unit #12
Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit (RSU) #12 is seeking a qualified, professional, responsive, customer service driven audit firm to provide specified consulting services as well as an opinion as to whether the financial statements of the RSU are presented, in all material respects, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
A copy of the complete RFP may be obtained by contacting the business office at Sheepscot Valley RSU #12 at 665 Patricktown Road, Somerville, ME 04348, Telephone 549-3261 option 2.
Questions on the RFP should be directed to:
Michele Grant
Business Manager
Sheepscot Valley RSU # 12
665 Patricktown Road
Somerville, ME 04348
Tel: (207) 549-3261 option 2
Email: mgrant@svrsu.org
All answers to questions will be provided to all prospective firms.
Proposals clearly marked “SVRSU #12 Consulting and Audit Services” may be mailed or delivered to: Michele Grant, Business Manager, SVRSU # 12, 665 Patricktown Road, Somerville, ME 04348 by no later than 3:00 P.M on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Acceptable proposal packages will contain three complete copies of the proposal and supporting documents.
SVRSU # 12 AUDIT - REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
A. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
1. Basic Description:
Sheepcot Valley RSU # 12 is composed of the towns of Alna, Chelsea, Palermo, Somerville, Westport Island, Whitefield, and Windsor. It has a student enrollment of 1485 students with approximately 235 employees. There are four elementary schools, and one central office. All financial records will be available at the Superintendent's Office.
Budgeted revenues from all fund types are estimated at approximately $24 million in FY 2021-2022.
2. Schedule of funds to be audited:
a. Government Fund Types
General
Other Governmental Funds such as Special Revenue and Capital Projects
Permanent
b. Proprietary Fund
Business type activities
c. Fiduciary Funds
Student Activity Agency
d. Account Groups
General Long-Term Debt
Capital Assets
3. Description of Accounting Records:
SVRSU # 12 follows the State of Maine MEDMS/FS, Financial Accounting Classifications for Local and State School Systems.
The accounting records of SVRSU # 12 are organized on the basis of funds and account groups, each of which is considered a separate accounting entity. The operations of each fund are accounted for with a separate set of self-balancing accounts that comprise its assets, liabilities, reserves, fund equity/retained earnings, revenues, and expenditures, or expenses as appropriate.
The modified accrual basis of accounting is followed by all funds except student activity funds, which are maintained on a cash basis.
Accounting records are ready for full audit review by September 15th of each year.
4. Description of Computer System & Accounting Staff:
SVRSU # 12 uses Tyler Technology’s ADS Profund software to process financial transactions and maintain financial records for general fund and special revenue funds as well as payroll, food service and accounts payable.
Accounting functions are performed in the Business Office by the following staff: Michele Grant, Business Manager, Amanda Morris, Account Payable Specialist, and Holly Plourde, Payroll Specialist.
5. Period to be Audited/Term of Contract:
The fiscal year of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 will be audited, with the option of extending the contract to subsequent years.
6. Availability of Prior Audit Reports and Work Papers:
Upon request the most recent audit report (FY 2021) and audit report management letter will be sent to interested firms.
B. WORK AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. Auditing Standards to be Followed:
The financial and compliance audit will cover federal, state, and local funding sources in accordance with the generally accepted auditing standards as put forth by the AICPA; Government Auditing Standards; the Single Audit Act of 1984; the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996; the provisions of OMB Circular A-133, Audits of State and Local Governments, and Non–Profit Organizations, including revisions published in Federal Register 06/27/03; and with Title 20-A, Section 6051 of the Maine Revised Statute Annotated, as well as all other applicable laws and regulations.
2. Extent of Assistance from SVRSU # 12:
The business office normally is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. A work area will be provided in the business office. The successful bidder may expect assistance from the SVRSU # 12 business office staff identified above, including (but not limited to):
a. copies of year end trial balances
b. separate statements of revenues and expenditures
c. details of any account balances
d. copies of original budget and all revisions
e. long term debt and lease schedules
f. copies of Board policies and meeting minutes
g. reconciled bank statements for all accounts
h. lists of outstanding checks showing check number, date, and amount
i. Schedule of all receivables
k. Schedule of insurance coverage
l. Schedules of capital asset acquisitions and disposals for the fiscal year
m. Schedule of depreciation expense as well as allocation among functional areas
n. Schedule of accounts payable
o. Computation of vested vacation payable with additions and retirements as well as allocation among functional areas
p. Grant agreement or confirmation letter for all special revenues
q. Grant budget and any financial reports with CFDA# or other number
r. pulling invoices/cash receipts as requested
To facilitate the providing of assistance by the SVRSU # 12 business staff, the auditor will provide a list of specific needed schedules and information prior to the audit start date.
3. Scope of Financial Audit to be Performed:
The financial audit opinion will cover the financial statements for the governmental activities, the business-type activities, the fiduciary activities, the account groups, the financial statements of the aggregate discretely presented component units, each major fund, and the remaining fund information, which collectively constitutes the basic financial statements. The combining and individual financial statements, schedules, and related information are not necessary for fair presentation, but will be presented as additional analytical data. This supplemental data, as required by GASB 34, will be subjected to the tests and other auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements, and an opinion will be given as to whether the supplemental information is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements as a whole. The auditor shall also express an opinion on the budgetary comparison information for the general fund, the major funds, and any annually budgeted special revenue funds. An opinion will not be given on the Management Discussion and Analysis.
4. Scope of Compliance Audit to be Performed:
The auditor shall perform a compliance audit of the school district's major federal programs in accordance with the provisions of the Single Audit Act of 1984, the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and the provisions of OMB Circular A-133, Audits of State and Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, including revisions published in Federal Register 06/27/03. The auditor shall render an opinion on the schedule of major federal programs, and on the internal accounting and administrative controls at the general-purpose financial statements level and federal program level, and on compliance at the general purpose financial statements level and the federal program level.
5. Number and Types of Reports Required:
The school district will require 5 bound reports containing, at a minimum, the following information:
a. Management Letter
b. Audit reports as required by all of the aforementioned standards.
c. Report on internal controls
d. Compliance Audit as required by all of the aforementioned standards including any schedule of findings and questionable costs
e. Any other required audits, schedules or reports necessary to comply with all applicable standards and regulations
6. Exit Conference Requirements:
The auditor shall provide an exit conference that addresses questions in the following areas:
a. Audit scope, procedure, or reports
b. Departures from GAAP
c. Observed errors or irregularities
d. Questioned costs relating to federal financial assistance
e. Recommendations to improve the accounting procedures or financial operations of the school district
f. Beginning balances for the new fiscal year
C. CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Final audit reports must be delivered to the Superintendent of Schools by December 1, 2022.
2. All working papers related to this audit shall be retained by the auditor for a period of three years. The school district or its representatives shall have access to those papers at a mutually convenient time, but no later than ten working days from date of request.
3. SVRSU # 12 reserves the right in cases of poor-quality work or contract violations to have the area in question corrected; withhold a prorated portion of the payment until the area in question has been corrected; and report the area of concern to the Maine Board of Accountancy.
4. The contract may be terminated with six months notice by either party.
5. The audit firm will not be reimbursed for any travel, photocopying, telephone bills or other related expenses of the audit unless incurred at the specific request of the school district.
6. Progress payments will be made by the school district, with final payment made upon acceptance of the audit report by the SVRSU # 12 Board of Directors.
D. PROPOSAL SPECIFICATIONS
Proposals must include the following information:
1. A statement of the firm's understanding of the work to be done.
2. A commitment to perform work within the time specified.
3. Any comments or exceptions to the requirements of this request for proposal.
4. All-inclusive maximum fees that shall be charged for the fiscal year to be audited under this contract.
5. A profile of the firm, including location of the office from which the work will be done; number and positions of professional staff; range of activities performed by staff in the office that will perform these audits; staff participation in continuing professional education in government accounting
and auditing over the past two years; and ongoing quality control measures.
6. Name of the individual(s) who will be assigned to supervise the audit. Describe his/her/their qualifications and experience or submit resumes. Specific reference should be made to experience auditing school units, governmental units or non-profit agencies. Describe the approach to staffing the work effort in subsequent years under this multiple year effort that will provide for efficiency of performance while, also, providing a fresh look each year.
7. The names and addresses of school units, governmental units and non-profit agencies for whom the firm has conducted financial audits during the past five years. Include telephone numbers and names of contacts.
8. An indication if the firm has been the object of any disciplinary action within the last three years.
9. The name, address and phone number of the firm and contact person for this proposal.
10. A signature on the proposal by an authorized representative of the firm.
PROPOSAL TERMS AND SUBMISSION:
1. Proposals will be evaluated and selected based on the following criteria (not listed in order of priority):
a. Relevant governmental auditing experience of the firm and individuals assigned to the audit.
b. Quality of work as evidenced by references, commitment to continuing professional education, and quality control measures.
c. Ability to schedule/complete the audit within established timelines.
d. Fees.
The award will not be based necessarily on the lowest fee proposed.
2. SVRSU # 12 reserves the right to waive all formalities and reject any and all proposals when it is in the best interests of SVRSU # 12 to do so. This includes the right to reject a proposal when an offeror is not in a position to perform the contract.
3. Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked “SVRSU # 12 Audit Proposal” no later than 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2022.
4. Proposals may be mailed, or hand delivered to the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, SVRSU # 12, 665 Patricktown Road, Somerville, ME 04348.
5. All proposals will be opened on Monday, June 6, 2022 at the Superintendent’s Office, 665 Patricktown Road, Somerville, ME 04348 and will be available for inspection (and thereafter by appointment) by interested parties.
F. FURTHER INFORMATION
Accounting records and reports may be reviewed by appointment. To schedule an appointment or seek further information contact Michele Grant, Business Manager, at 549-3261 option 2.
Reminder: RSU 12 Board of Director's meeting on March 10th at Chelsea Elementary School, 6:30pm. Agenda can be found here, https://www.svrsu.org/browse/302359
All RSU 12 schools will have a two hour delay this morning, March 3rd.
This is a reminder. Face coverings will be optional for all staff, students, and visitors to RSU 12 schools starting Monday, February 28, 2022.
Also, please note that the Federal CDC issued new guidance for school buses last Friday stating that face coverings are now optional. So, face coverings are now optional for all staff and students riding RSU 12 school buses starting tomorrow, February 28, 2022. Please read an updated letter from the Superintendent about these changes here, https://5il.co/15y2z
Face coverings will be optional for all staff, students, and visitors to RSU 12 schools starting Monday, February 28, 2022. Please read a letter from the Superintendent about this change here, https://5il.co/15y2z
The February 8th Board Meeting Agenda can be found here, https://www.svrsu.org/browse/292208