Exciting News: MSAD 33 and Madawaska Schools Select Harriman to Lead New PreK-12 Educational Facility

We are thrilled to share a major milestone in the journey toward a new, permanent home for our students in the St. John Valley.

MSAD 33 and Madawaska Schools have selected Harriman (a Maine-based architectural and engineering firm) to lead the design and planning of a new PreK-12 Educational Facility. This is a significant step forward, and one that reflects years of determination, community perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to our children's future.

Why Harriman?

Harriman stood out for many reasons, but perhaps most importantly: They are a Maine firm that truly understands our region. With team members located right here in Aroostook County (including in Caribou) Harriman brings not only statewide expertise but genuine local presence. They have already demonstrated their commitment to our community through prior projects in the area, including work at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, the NMCC Dining Commons Renovation, and the Fish River Rural Health Madawaska Health Clinic.

Beyond their regional roots, Harriman brings an impressive depth of experience in PreK-12 school design, with more than 200 elementary schools, 60 middle schools, and 70 high schools in their portfolio, along with 80+ school assessments and studies. Their dedicated PreK–12 Education Studio integrates architects, engineers, educational planners, and interior designers under one roof, which means our project will benefit from a team that thinks about every stage of a child's school experience.

Harriman has also made a clear commitment to keeping our community informed every step of the way. They believe transparency isn't just a best practice, it's a foundation for trust. Throughout the planning and design process, Harriman will prioritize open communication, ensure stakeholders are never left guessing, and actively work to build consensus around key decisions. Families, educators, and community members can expect to be engaged early, updated often, and genuinely heard.

A School Built Around Our Community

One of the things that excites us most about Harriman is their deeply collaborative approach. They believe great schools grow from the communities they serve, and they mean it. Harriman is committed to a transparent, inclusive community engagement process that ensures students, families, educators, and St. John Valley residents all have a voice in shaping what this new facility looks like and what it stands for.

This isn't just a building project — it's an opportunity to reimagine what education can look like in our valley for generations to come. From early childhood spaces designed around how young children learn and grow, to high school environments that prepare students for life beyond graduation, the new facility will be thoughtfully designed for every learner.

Looking Ahead

The road to a new PreK-12 school has not been without its challenges, and we are deeply grateful for the patience and support of our community along the way. With Harriman now on board, we are ready to move forward with purpose and momentum.

In the coming weeks and months, you will have opportunities to participate in the planning process. Your input matters, and Harriman's team is ready to listen. Stay tuned for updates on community engagement sessions and next steps.

Together, we are building something extraordinary for the children of the St. John Valley.

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School Construction Update: Interview Subcommittee Formed

Following our first meeting on May 13, 2026, the school construction committee formed several subcommittees to keep the project moving forward.

One of these is the Interview Subcommittee, which is tasked with interviewing three Engineering and Architectural firms chosen by the full committee.

What you need to know:

• Who is on the committee: Community members from Frenchville, Madawaska, and St. Agatha, plus school representatives from MSAD33 and Madawaska Schools.

• When are the interviews: June 1, 2026.

• What happens next: The subcommittee plans to present a final recommendation to the full construction committee shortly after the interviews.
  

May 6 Community Information Night Video

 For those who missed the May 6 community information night, the recording of the meeting can be accessed by clicking the image below. 

Click here or the image above.

School Construction Committee Meets tonight - Wednesday, May 13, 2026

 Public Notice

The school construction committee for the proposed PreK-12 Regional School for Frenchville, Madawaska, and St. Agatha meets for it's first meeting tonight, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, beginning at 6:00pm at the St. John Valley Technology Center in Frenchville. 

This is a public meeting that any resident is welcome to attend.  

To view the agenda for the meeting, click here. 

Announcing Our School Construction Committee

We're excited to share a major step forward for the families and students of Madawaska, Frenchville, and St. Agatha: the formation of a joint School Construction Committee

that will guide the planning and design of a new school facility to serve all three communities.

This work is possible because MSAD33 has been placed on the Maine Department of Education's approved Major Capital School Construction list, a milestone years in the making. Recognizing the opportunity to do something bigger together, MSAD33 has invited the Madawaska School Department to join in a collaborative project. The state has confirmed that 100% of basic construction costs will be covered, with only "extras" funded locally. The building this committee helps shape will serve our students for the next 50 years.

What the Committee Does

The School Construction Committee is the governing body for this project. Its members will:

• Develop the guiding principles and educational vision for the new building

• Endorse recommendations from seven focused subcommittees (site selection, educational programming, design, finance, community engagement, technology, and furnishings)

• Vote on major project milestones, including site selection, schematic design, and selection of the engineering and architectural firm

• Serve as the community voice: Attending public forums, listening, and bringing input back to the table

• Monitor the overall budget and timeline throughout the project

Day-to-day construction management belongs to our professional engineering and architectural team. The committee's role is to make sure the project reflects the values and needs of our communities.

First Meeting

The committee will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 6:00–7:30 PM at the St. John Valley Technology Center, facilitated by construction consultant Rick Lyons. The agenda includes orientation to Maine's school construction process, the committee's scope and subcommittee structure, the project timeline, and review of responses to the engineering services RFQ.

Your Committee Members

We are deeply grateful to the following individuals who have said yes to this work on behalf of our students and communities:

Shared / VUESC

• Benjamin Sirois — Superintendent

• Lucie Tabor — Shared Business Manager

• Lise Pelletier — Special Education Director

MSAD33 (Frenchville & St. Agatha)

• Robby Nadeau — Building Administrator

• Brian Beaulieu — School Board Member

• Kyle Labbe — Community Member, Frenchville

• Robbie Chamberland — Community Member, St. Agatha

• Jenna St. Onge — Elementary Teacher

• Mike Berube — CTE Instructor

• Kevin Lavoie — CTE Director / Facilities Oversight

• Christine Hebert — Parent

Madawaska School Department

• Christian Arnold — Building Administrator

• Nick Guerrette — School Committee Member

• Richard Dionne — Community Member, Madawaska

• Colin Jandreau — Middle/High School Teacher

• Rhiannon Hartvigsen — Special Education Teacher

• Ashley Pelletier — Parent

• Paul Chasse — Facilities/Safety Director

Facilitator

• Rick Lyons — Construction Consultant

This is the second-in-a-generation effort for our communities, and it's one we intend to get right. We'll continue to share regular updates as the work moves forward, and we welcome your questions, your input, and your hopes for what this new school can be.

 

Join Us: Community Information Night on School Collaboration

We are excited to invite residents of Frenchville, St. Agatha, and Madawaska to a Community Information Night regarding the ongoing collaboration between MSAD 33 and the Madawaska School Department.

Over the past few months, there have been major developments in our efforts to form a Regional School Unit (RSU) and build a new, state-funded PreK-12 regional school. We want to ensure that our community members are fully informed and involved in this historic process.

Whether you have been following the updates closely or are just tuning in, this is the perfect opportunity to learn about where things currently stand.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
• Time: 6:00 PM
• Location: Madawaska Middle/High School Cafeteria

What to Expect

During the meeting, representatives will provide a comprehensive update on:

• The current status of the state-funded PreK-12 school project.
• The progress of the joint Reorganization Committee and the steps toward forming a unified RSU.
• Updates on the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for engineering and architectural services.
• The expected timeline for next steps, including the upcoming referendums and committee formations.

Future Meetings

We are committed to making these updates accessible to everyone in our communities. Please note that future community meetings will rotate between Frenchville, St. Agatha, and Madawaska.

We strongly encourage parents, taxpayers, and community members to attend, get the facts, and hear firsthand about the future of education in the St. John Valley.

We hope to see you there!

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Engineering Services

Notice to Architects and Engineers

Request for Qualifications

Maine School Administrative District No. 33 (RSU 33/MSAD 33), wishes to procure architectural/

engineering services for the preliminary analysis and planning through construction for a comprehensive PreK-12 Educational Facility in the St. John Valley in northern Maine.

The vision is to develop a project that would deliver enhanced educational opportunities to students on a regional scale. The project will result in a comprehensive PreK-12 for the communities of Frenchville, St. Agatha and Madawaska. This facility will also support industry training programs leading to recognized licensure and certification, and may include other related work in the region.

The scope of services to be provided includes, but is not limited to;

• Preliminary analysis of critical elements including infrastructure, regulations, demographics and other key components associated with the project
• Analysis of existing buildings and sites
• Site analysis leading to Site Selection and State Board of Education approval
• Support and integration of the Educational Visioning process
• Space allocation analysis and program development
• Development of Concept Design and budget leading to State Board of Education and referendum approval
• Preparation of construction documents and construction administration

The firm will work under the direction of the districts involved in the project and the Department of Education and will be required to coordinate with other consultants contracted by the Owner.

Interested firms should submit six paper copies and one electronic copy of a Letter of Interest with a Statement of Qualifications which includes the firm's:

1. qualifications to undertake this project;
2. list of projects that demonstrate the firm's capabilities;
3. list of recently completed work of similar type and size projects, with client contact information for each project;
4. experience with budgets and project cost control, with some results of the firm's activities;
5. profiles of key personnel who will be involved in the project;
6. statement of current workload and ability to absorb the project; and
7. list of business references other than those listed above, including contact information.

If the submitting firm plans to undertake the project with the assistance of additional engineering and design professionals, information should be provided as listed above on all firms and individuals.

The paper copies of the Letter of Interest and Statement of Qualifications should be sent to Benjamin Sirois, Executive Director, Valley Unified Regional Service Center, 84 Pleasant Street, Suite 1, Ft. Kent, ME 04743 to be received no later than 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026 .  The electronic copy of the Letter of Interest and Statement of Qualifications should be sent as an attachment to an email addressed to bsirois@vuesc.org to meet the deadline noted above.

Firms interested in making a submittal are directed to not make personal contact with the Executive Director or other members of either MSAD33 or Madawaska Public Schools. Any contact may constitute grounds for disqualification of consideration.

Firms responding will be screened and interviewed on the basis of qualifications only. Project fees and specific design solutions for this project will not be discussed at the interview. Specific program information will not be available before the screening of qualification packages. The selection committee will rank all firms and negotiate terms with the highest ranked firm.

Madawaska votes to send Grades PreK-12

A collaborative meeting of the MSAD33 Board of Directors and the Madawaska School Committee was rescheduled for February 4, 2026.  This meeting was attended by Maine DOE Director of School Construction, Scott Brown who presented information about school construction and answered questions. 

After originally voting to only send grades 6-12 to the proposed regional school with MSAD33, the Madawaska School Committee revisited the vote later in the meeting, finally approving sending all students PreK-12 by a unanimous vote.   Both votes came after the Madawaska School committee was presented with results from a parent and public survey to gauge the public's preference on grade level combinations.   

Public comments from the Madawaska finance committee member and local business owner Vincent Frallicciardi, as well as MSAD33 board chairman Joshua Desjardins both urged the Madawaska School Committee to reconsider their vote, stating that this collaboration has to be "all or nothing".  

Madawaska Town Manager David Daigle was also available to answer questions that the Madawaska School committee members had about property valuation related to school closures.  

The school units will look to form a School Construction Committee in the upcoming weeks to oversee key next steps in this process.  The first step will be selecting an engineering firm.  An RFQ for engineering services has been posted at https://bit.ly/RSU33. 

Tonight's Meeting Postponed

 Due to the winter storm that hit Maine last night and this morning, the DOE construction team could not make the trip to Frenchville for tonight's meeting.  Intermittent internet outages also makes a Zoom meeting unreliable.  

We are therefore postponing tonight's meeting and looking to reschedule for next week.  Once that has been confirmed we will update the public. 

Sorry for the late notice. 

Collaborative School Board/Committee Meeting: January 26, 2026

The MSAD33 Board and the Madawaska School Committee will be holding a collaborative/joint meeting the evening of January 26, 2026 at the St. John Valley Technology Center in Frenchville.  The purpose of this meeting is to have representatives of the Maine Department of Education School Construction Committee present to answer questions about the Major Capital Improvement program for school construction, specific to the project awarded to MSAD33, which has invited Madawaska to participate in.  

The Madawaska School Committee will start with their own meeting at 5:00pm to take care of items of business.  The collaborative/joint meeting will then start at 5:30pm.  Finally, MSAD33 will have their own meeting following the collaborative meeting to take care of their own items of business, beginning approximately at 6:00pm. 

It is likely that both school boards/committees will agree to start the school construction process shortly by forming a school construction committee made up of stakeholders from each community.  If any members of the Frenchville, Madawaska, or St. Agatha communities wish to serve on such a committee, please reach out to members of your school board/committee or send an email to the superintendent at bsirois@vuesc.org. 

Proposed Regional School: Grade Level Configuration Determinations

The MSAD33 board of directors has already determined that all PreK-12 students will attend the proposed regional school.  The Madawaska School Committee however, is still considering what grade levels would be best to attend this school.   A survey for the Madawaska Community has been sent out: https://forms.gle/Vc7MMCh6zSG9pDvg9 

If Madawaska decides that all their students, PreK-12, would also attend this school, then Madawaska School Department would join MSAD33, forming a Regional School Unit (RSU) with Frenchville and St. Agatha.  If however Madawaska decides to only send middle and/or high school students, (eg. grades 6-12), then only those grade levels would become part of the new RSU and the Madawaska School Department would remain a PreK-5 school department. 

Here are some facts for community members to consider:

1. Madawaska Middle/High School was constructed in 1948. (77 years old). 

2. Wisdom Middle/High School was constructed in 1965. (60 years old)

3. Madawaska Elementary School was constructed in 1995. (30 years old). 

4. The current student population at Madawaska Schools is 344.   

5. The current student population at MSAD33 is 229 students. 

6. Combined 6-12 enrollment of MSAD33 and Madawaska would be 300. 

7. Combined PreK-12 enrollment of MSAD33 and Madawaska would be 573. 

8. Realistic completion of a regional school would be 6- 8 years from now. (Possibly longer.)

MSAD33 has the 2nd Approved School Construction Project

On November 13, the Maine State Board of Education approved 2 school construction projects.  One of those projects is the RSU33/MSAD33 project, approved to reconstruct a school lost to the Dr. Levesque Elementary Fire and to replace Wisdom Middle/High School.  

Because Madawaska is looking to join RSU33/MSAD33, they too can participate in the project, assuming that reorganization is successful and Madawaska joins RSU33/MSAD33.  There is no longer a need to wait for the Regional Consolidated School Application that was submitted in October.  

Soon, both local school boards (MSAD33 and Madawaska) will need to determine their preferred grade levels to attend the proposed school, and form a school construction committee, made of of stakeholders from each community (Frenchville, Madawaska, and St. Agatha) to begin the planning process.  

One of the first steps will be to advertise for engineering firms to lead this process and then the fun begins! 

Updates on this process will be added to this blog on a weekly basis. 

Meeting #2 of the Reorganization Committee tonight - Monday, November 17, 2025

Public Meeting Notice

MSAD33 and Madawaska Schools Reorganization Committee Meeting

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Date: Monday, November 17, 2025

Location: Madawaska Middle/High School Library 

Time: 6:30pm

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Agenda

• Committee Responsibilities and overview  

• Governing Board size and voting protocol

• Disposition of real and personal school property

• Disposition of existing school indebtedness and lease purchase obligations

• The assignment of school personnel  contracts, school collective bargaining agreements and other school contractual obligations

• Other

• Set December meeting date