District overview
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
MSAD 75 serves Topsham, Harpswell, Bowdoin and Bowdoinham with seven schools, including Mt. Ararat Middle and High School. A 14-member board, elected town by town in proportion to population (Topsham 6, Harpswell 4, Bowdoin 2, Bowdoinham 2), sets the budget, which voters then confirm at a district budget meeting and referendum. Superintendent Dr. Heidi O'Leary runs the district. Two issues dominate the year: what to do about buildings that need tens of millions in repairs, and how to run buses without enough drivers.
Harriman Architects estimated that much in repairs over 10 years. The 12 draft options include renovations, consolidating schools and new construction; none has been chosen.
In August 2026 the board authorized negotiating with an outside company. A First Student bid of $637,651 would be paid mostly from vacant driver positions.
The 2026-27 general fund budget is $61,161,600, up from $57,876,308 in 2025-26.
Since September 2026, middle and high school students must keep phones and smartwatches in locked pouches during the school day.
The district stresses that no facilities option is decided, that it plans at least a five-year process with town-by-town meetings, and that it still prefers to hire its own bus drivers.
Range $67.5M-$81M
Started in March 2025 with Harriman Architects & Engineers. After three public forums produced 12 draft options, the district laid out a multi-phase decision process of at least five years. In August 2026 the board authorized more concept design work, and in October 2026 the Facilities Committee and a board workshop took up financing and next steps.
Not decided; options include local bonds
Facing a driver shortage despite a $2,500 sign-on bonus, the district bid out transportation services in August 2026. The Finance Committee reviewed a First Student bid of $637,651.20 against $596,477.72 in offsetting savings.
Vacant transportation positions and other transportation lines
Town of Topsham
Topsham elects its MSAD 75 board members at the November municipal election. The district's roster lists four Topsham members whose terms end in November 2026: Catherine Brillant, Toni Goncalves, Mary Hobson and Kim Pacelli. The board thanked Mary Hobson for six years of service in October 2026. Candidate names were not found in district sources.
Official source · verified Oct 30, 2026
Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →All MSAD 75 board, workshop, special and committee meetings posted on the district's OnBoard public portal from October 30, 2025 through October 22, 2026: agenda pages, minutes and attachments, plus the board roster on link75.org.
We read every agenda, packet, recording, and set of minutes, and write up the decisions that affect families — each one linked to the document it came from.
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