Three Communities, One School: Help Shape Our Future at Community Forum #1

MSAD 33 and Madawaska Schools invite families, students, staff, and neighbors to the first of three community forums on a proposed State-funded PreK-12 school.

Something big is taking shape in our corner of the St. John Valley. MSAD 33 and the Madawaska School Department have the opportunity to join together and build a new, State-funded PreK-12 school. A project like this comes along once in a generation, and we want it to reflect the people it will serve.

That is why we are hosting a series of community forums, beginning with Community Forum #1 on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the St. John Valley Technology Center.

Why your voice matters

Madawaska, Frenchville, and St. Agatha share a river, a heritage, and generations of family ties. A shared school is a chance to combine our strengths, expand opportunities for students, and design a building around how learning happens today. The best plans start with listening, and we want to hear from you before decisions are made.

What to expect

• Project overview: what is being proposed and why this opportunity matters now
• The process ahead: the steps from planning to a finished school, and where community input fits along the way
• Your priorities: an open conversation about what matters most to you in a future school

Whether you are a parent, a student, a teacher, a business owner, or a longtime resident whose children graduated years ago, your perspective belongs in this conversation. Come ready to think about questions like these: What learning spaces would make the biggest difference for students? What programs should a PreK-12 school offer? How can the building serve the wider community?

A note on location

Site selection is currently underway. Information about the future school location will not be part of this forum. We know this question is on many minds, and we will share updates as soon as information is available. Stay tuned.

Can't make it on November 3?

We will cover the same agenda at two more forums, so everyone has a chance to take part.

Forum	Date	Time	Location
Forum #2	Monday, November 23, 2026	6:00 PM	Wisdom Middle High School
Forum #3	Wednesday, December 9, 2026	6:00 PM	Madawaska Middle High School

Questions?

Please contact Benjamin Sirois, Superintendent, at bsirois@vuesc.org.

This school will belong to all of us. Let's plan it together. We hope to see you there!

Site Selection Sub-Committee Meeting: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

The site selection sub-committee meets tomorrow evening, beginning at 6PM at Wisdom Middle/High School in St. Agatha.  Please see the agenda for tomorrow's meeting below. 

Click here or the image above to access the agenda. 

Reorganization Committee Meeting - Tonight - Tuesday, October 13, 2026

The reorganization committee, which is the committee tasked with identifying how a newly reorganized Regional School Unit 33 would look like if Madawaska were to join that district, will be meeting once again tonight, Tuesday, October 13, beginning at 6:00pm in the Wisdom Middle/High School Library. 

Please see the agenda below for additional information.

Click here or the image above to view the agenda. 

Replay of the October 6 School Construction Committee Meeting

For anyone who missed the October 6 school construction committee meeting and are interested in learning about where things stand, please use the link below to access the video recording.  We hope to record all meetings of the school construction committee, as well as the sub-committee meetings for site selection and educational programing moving forward. 

Click here or the image above to access the October 6 meeting recording.

MSAD33/Madawaska Schools - School Construction Committee Meeting Tonight - Tuesday, October 6, 2026

 The full school construction committee, a committee made up of various stakeholders from Frenchville, Madawaska, and St. Agatha, including community members and school personnel, will be meeting this evening.   The committee will get introduced to the Harriman team, the engineers/architects for this project.  The Harriman team will be providing the committee with an outlook for the months ahead. 

The meeting begins at 6:00pm at the Madawaska Middle/High School library and all residents of Frenchville, Madawaska, and St. Agatha are welcomed to attend. 

Site Selection Sub-Committee Meeting - Wednesday, September 23, 2026

The site selection sub-committee meets tomorrow night at SJVTC, beginning at 5:30 pm.  The meeting will move quickly into executive session, meaning the site discussion happens behind closed doors. This is required by Maine law and exists for a simple reason: If committee members openly discuss which sites they prefer or what they think land is worth, that information could put the community at a disadvantage when negotiating with a landowner.

Keeping those deliberations private protects the taxpayers' interests. Once a site is selected, the final decision will be made in open session with full public opportunity to weigh in.

We hope to keep the community updated throughout this process.

Click here or the image above for the agenda.

Reorganization Committee to Meet: Wednesday, September 16

 The reorganization committee, which is the committee tasked with identifying how a newly reorganized Regional School Unit 33 would look like if Madawaska were to join that district, will be meeting once again on Wednesday, September 16, beginning at 6:00pm in the Madawaska Middle High School Library. 

Please see the agenda below for additional information.

Click here or the image above. 

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First Meeting of the Site Selection Sub-Committee: Thursday, August 27

 The site selection sub-committee for the MSAD33 and Madawaska school construction program is set to meet at 6:00pm on Thursday, August 27 at the St. John Valley Technology Center in Frenchville.  This is a public meeting that any resident can attend.  

Please see the agenda below:

Click here or on the agenda above.

Reorganization Committee to Meet: Wednesday, August 26, 2026

The reorganization committee is examining what governance would look like if Madawaska were to join MSAD 33. The committee will meet on Wednesday, August 26, at 6:00 p.m. in the Wisdom Middle/High School library.

The agenda includes reviewing revisions to the reorganization plan prepared by legal counsel and scheduling an upcoming public meeting where residents can hear the plan and provide feedback.

This is a public meeting, and residents of Frenchville, Madawaska, and St. Agatha are encouraged to attend and be part of the process.

Site Requests for School Construction

Please share this with anyone in the region who might be willing to sell land, approximately 30 acres in size.  

 Click here the image above for a larger view of the Site Advertisement.

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.