SAD 4 parents, students deserve details

To the Editor;
SAD 4 is facing another tough budget ahead. The state continues to ignore its obligation to fund 55 percent of school costs, and has so far cut the district’s 2017-18 funding by approximately $750,000. That is three times the funding shortfall the district had to overcome last year, in a budget struggle that only passed on the fourth vote after contentious cutbacks.
To date the School Board has only discussed the general scenario, but there are details parents and students need to know. The first reality is another round of staffing cuts. This could result in larger class sizes, and fewer scheduling options, especially at the high school. Once again there needs to be discussion about combining positions, and re-writing job descriptions to fit the size of the district.
Another possibility is to move grades 7 and 8 back to the Piscataquis Community Elementary School building. By itself this move may not save money, but some hope that it could more efficiently provide classes such as gym, music or art, and better serve students with special needs. However, for the past two years the public has been told there is no available room at PCES to house four central office employees, and the district has rented their office space. How can five classrooms suddenly be found to house the middle school staff and students?
The superintendent also put forth tuitioning grades 9-12 to another town, but offered no cost information for such a move, and suggested that other efforts to consolidate programs like Alternative Ed would be more realistic. There is a longer-term hope to consolidate with SAD 46 by building a new tech center in the form of a comprehensive high school. However, this opportunity is in its earliest stages, and will be at least five years in the future if it’s approved for state funding. It will not answer the budget demands of the upcoming year.
I write this as a former member of the board, and as concerned parent. Please join the Budget Committee on Tuesday, April 4th at 6 p.m. at the PCSS library to offer input, ask questions, and hear the options going before the board. Public support for the students and staff is critical for our local schools.
Sue Griffith
Parkman