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Regional School Unit 21, Maine, elections
| Regional School Unit 21 |
|---|
 |
| District details |
| School board members: 12 |
| Students: 2,401 (2023-2024) |
| Schools: 6 (2023-2024) |
| Website: Link |
Regional School Unit 21 is a school district in Maine (York County). During the 2024 school year, 2,401 students attended one of the district's six schools.
This page provides information regarding school board members, election rules, finances, academics, policies, and more details about the district.
Elections
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Regional School Unit 21 Board of Directors Town of Kennebunk
General election
General election for Regional School Unit 21 Board of Directors Town of Kennebunk (2 seats)
Arianna M.A. Efstathiou and Brian C. McGrath ran in the general election for Regional School Unit 21 Board of Directors Town of Kennebunk on June 10, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| Arianna M.A. Efstathiou (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Brian C. McGrath (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Regional School Unit 21 Board of Directors Town of Kennebunk
General election
General election for Regional School Unit 21 Board of Directors Town of Kennebunk (2 seats)
Rebecca A. Lewis, Abigail L. Spadone, and Matthew J. Stratford ran in the general election for Regional School Unit 21 Board of Directors Town of Kennebunk on June 11, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| Rebecca A. Lewis (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Abigail L. Spadone (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Matthew J. Stratford (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Regional School Unit 21 Board of Directors Town of Kennebunk
General election
Special general election for Regional School Unit 21 Board of Directors Town of Kennebunk
No candidate won the special general election for Regional School Unit 21 Board of Directors Town of Kennebunk on March 29, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| Gayle Asmussen Spofford (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 1,508 | ||
Vote totals may be incomplete for this race. | ||||
| Total votes: 1,508 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Recall elections
- See also: States that allow school board recalls
Recall procedures
| State | Specific grounds required? | Signature requirement | Petition circulation time | When recalls can start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | Determined by local election laws | Determined by local election laws | Determined by local election laws | Determined by local election laws |
Recall efforts
2024
A recall election against Kirstin Shapiro, member of the Regional School Unit 21 Board of School Directors in Maine, was held on December 17, 2024. Shapiro resigned from her position on November 14, 2024, but because it was after the withdrawal deadline, the recall election was still held. Voters were asked if they authorized the recall of Shapiro and had the option to vote yes or no.[1][2][3] A majority of voters cast yes ballots, approving the recall.[4]
The recall effort started in October 2024 during stalled contract negotiations between the school board and the Kennebunk Arundel Kennebunkport Educators’ Association. Teachers started the 2024-2025 school year without a contract as their former contract expired on August 31, 2024. At the time the recall began, Shapiro was serving as a member of the committee representing the school district in the negotiations.[5]
On November 8, 2024, the board of school directors voted 9-3 to censure Shapiro for her behavior and misconduct during a meeting on September 19, 2024.[6][7]
About the district
School board
The Regional School Unit 21 consists of 12 members serving three-year terms. To find information about school board meetings, click here.
| Name | Seat | Year assumed office | Year term ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diane Franz | Kennebunkport seat | ||
| Britney Gerth | Arundel seat | 2028 | |
| Brian McGrath | Kennebunk seat | 2028 | |
| Megan Michaud | Kennebunkport seat | 2027 | |
| Abigail Spadone | Kennebunk seat | 2027 | |
| Matthew Stratford | Kennebunk seat | 2027 | |
| Kirstan Watson | Arundel seat | 2027 | |
| Leah Bares | Kennebunk seat | 2026 | |
| Mandy Cummings | Arundel seat | 2026 | |
| Bob Domine | Kennebunkport seat | 2026 | |
| Wayne Sargent | Kennebunk seat | 2026 | |
| Lesley Stoeffler | Kennebunk seat | 2026 |
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District map
Overlapping state house districts
The table was limited to the lower chamber because it provides the most granularity. State house districts tend to be more numerous and therefore smaller than state senate or U.S. House districts. This provides an impression of the partisan affiliations in the area.
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[8]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $1,843,000 | $754 | 3% |
| Local: | $44,865,000 | $18,350 | 78% |
| State: | $10,616,000 | $4,342 | 18% |
| Total: | $57,324,000 | $23,445 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $51,428,000 | $21,033 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $46,205,000 | $18,897 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $26,179,000 | $10,707 | 51% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $6,344,000 | $2,594 | 12% |
| Administration: | $4,527,000 | $1,851 | 9% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $9,155,000 | $3,744 | 18% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $1,118,000 | $457 | |
| Construction: | $433,000 | $177 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $0 | $0 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $1,586,000 | $648 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements. To protect student privacy, percentages are reported as ranges for groups of 300 students or fewer. If five or fewer students were included in a data set, the data will display as "PS."[9]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | 91 | >=80 | >=80 | >=90 | >=50 | >=50 | 91 |
| 2020-2021 | 91 | >=80 | >=50 | >=80 | >=50 | >=50 | 92 |
| 2018-2019 | 57 | 60-69 | 40-59 | 40-59 | >=50 | <50 | 58 |
| 2017-2018 | 56 | 60-69 | 21-39 | 21-39 | >=50 | 40-59 | 57 |
| 2016-2017 | 60 | 50-59 | 40-59 | 40-59 | >=50 | <50 | 60 |
| 2015-2016 | 60 | 50-59 | 40-59 | 40-59 | PS | <50 | 60 |
| 2014-2015 | 58 | 70-79 | 40-59 | 40-59 | >=50 | 40-59 | 58 |
| 2013-2014 | 77 | 80-89 | 60-79 | 60-79 | PS | 60-79 | 77 |
| 2012-2013 | 76 | 70-79 | 60-79 | >=50 | PS | >=50 | 77 |
| 2011-2012 | 75 | 80-89 | >=50 | >=50 | PS | 60-79 | 75 |
| 2010-2011 | 75 | >=50 | >=50 | >=50 | 80-89 | >=50 | 75 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | 92 | >=80 | >=80 | >=90 | >=50 | >=50 | 92 |
| 2020-2021 | 94 | >=80 | >=50 | >=80 | >=50 | >=50 | 93 |
| 2018-2019 | 74 | 60-69 | 60-79 | 60-79 | >=50 | >=50 | 74 |
| 2017-2018 | 71 | 50-59 | 60-79 | 60-79 | >=50 | 60-79 | 71 |
| 2016-2017 | 72 | 70-79 | 60-79 | 40-59 | >=50 | >=50 | 73 |
| 2015-2016 | 69 | 80-89 | 40-59 | 60-79 | PS | >=50 | 69 |
| 2014-2015 | 67 | 70-79 | 40-59 | 60-79 | >=50 | 40-59 | 68 |
| 2013-2014 | 79 | 80-89 | 60-79 | 60-79 | PS | >=80 | 79 |
| 2012-2013 | 80 | 70-79 | 60-79 | >=50 | PS | >=50 | 80 |
| 2011-2012 | 79 | 80-89 | >=50 | >=50 | PS | 40-59 | 79 |
| 2010-2011 | 79 | >=50 | >=50 | >=50 | 80-89 | >=50 | 79 |
The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 94 | >=50 | PS | PS | PS | PS | 90-94 |
| 2019-2020 | 97 | >=50 | PS | PS | PS | PS | >=95 |
| 2018-2019 | 90-94 | PS | PS | PS | >=50 | >=95 | |
| 2017-2018 | >=95 | >=50 | PS | PS | PS | >=95 | |
| 2016-2017 | 90-94 | PS | PS | PS | PS | 90-94 | |
| 2015-2016 | >=95 | PS | PS | PS | PS | 90-94 | |
| 2014-2015 | 90-94 | PS | PS | PS | 90-94 | ||
| 2013-2014 | >=95 | PS | PS | PS | >=95 | ||
| 2012-2013 | 90-94 | PS | PS | PS | PS | PS | 90-94 |
| 2011-2012 | 90-94 | PS | 90-94 | ||||
| 2010-2011 | 85-89 | PS | PS | 85-89 |
Students
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[10]
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | 2,401 | -1.0 |
| 2022-2023 | 2,425 | -0.8 |
| 2021-2022 | 2,445 | -2.0 |
| 2020-2021 | 2,494 | -5.2 |
| 2019-2020 | 2,623 | -0.8 |
| 2018-2019 | 2,643 | 3.4 |
| 2017-2018 | 2,553 | 1.4 |
| 2016-2017 | 2,516 | 0.2 |
| 2015-2016 | 2,510 | -3.1 |
| 2014-2015 | 2,589 | -2.4 |
| 2013-2014 | 2,652 | 0.0 |
| 2012-2013 | 2,653 | 0.1 |
| 2011-2012 | 2,651 | -2.2 |
| 2010-2011 | 2,710 | -2.1 |
| 2009-2010 | 2,767 | 0.0 |
| 2008-2009 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007-2008 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006-2007 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005-2006 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004-2005 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003-2004 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002-2003 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001-2002 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000-2001 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 1999-2000 | 0 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Regional School Unit 21 (%) | Maine K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.6 | 1.3 |
| Black | 1.4 | 4.9 |
| Hispanic | 3.8 | 3.5 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Two or More Races | 1.9 | 3.8 |
| White | 90.8 | 85.7 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[11]
As of the 2023-2024 school year, Regional School Unit 21 had 202.50 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 11.86.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 8.10 |
| Kindergarten: | 13.83 |
| Elementary: | 117.67 |
| Secondary: | 61.90 |
| Total: | 202.50 |
Regional School Unit 21 employed 9.00 district administrators and 11.60 school administrators as of the 2023-2024 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 9.00 |
| District Administrative Support: | 10.90 |
| School Administrators: | 11.60 |
| School Administrative Support: | 15.10 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 108.00 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 8.70 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 9.80 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 0.00 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 0.00 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 3.00 |
| Library/Media Support: | 3.00 |
| Student Support Services: | 69.20 |
| Other Support Services: | 64.20 |
Schools
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[12]
About school boards
Education legislation in Maine
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
| School Boards | Education Policy | Local Politics | Maine |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Rachel Bull, Arundel Town Clerk," November 4, 2024
- ↑ Portsmouth Herald, "RSU 21 School Board member Kirstin Shapiro resigns following censure," November 18, 2024
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Rachel Bull, Arundel Town Clerk," November 26, 2024
- ↑ Portsmouth Herald, "Arundel voters recall ex-RSU 21 board member Kirstin Shapiro despite resignation," December 17, 2024
- ↑ Portsmith Herald, "Recall effort targets RSU 21 School Board member Kirstin Shapiro over 'outbursts,'" October 2, 2024
- ↑ Portsmouth Herald, "RSU 21 School Board censures Kirstin Shapiro for outburst: 'Students were watching,'" November 8, 2024
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedshapiroresponse - ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2021-22 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed October 18, 2025
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed October 6, 2025
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