SAD 46 budget down, local share up

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

   DEXTER — The SAD 46 Board of Directors unanimously approved a $13.12 million budget at its May 6 meeting, $55,483 or .43 percent less than last year.
   That’s the good news.
   The not-so-good news is that the district’s four member towns will have to come up with more money to balance the budget since the state’s allocation has been reduced.

   Superintendent Kevin Jordan explained that the state’s share has been reduced to $8.64 million or $274,351 less than the current budget. So in order for the district to “break even,” it needs to raise additional local funds. So this means that Dexter, Exeter, Garland and Ripley residents will probably see their share of expenses go up by about 3.2 percent.
   Still, school officials pointed out the district has spent less than the recommended amount for the state’s Essential Programs and Services (EPS) formula for 10 out of the last 11 years. This year, the figure is $35,960 less than last year.
   Also, the per-pupil cost at SAD 46 is $8,988, placing them 174th in the state among 220 school units.
   There will be a few positions added in the district, pending voter approval of the budget. These are a half-time school nurse and special education ed tech at Ridge View Community School; a social worker at Dexter Regional High School, a mechanic for the transportation department a one-fifth time curriculum coordinator for the district.
   “I think this shows the community that you’re (the board) trying very hard to hold the line,” Jordan said. “From 2009 until now, we’ve only gone up a little over 2 percent. That’s very little for seven budgets.”
   The public budget meeting is Thursday, June 4 at 6 p.m. and the referendum to validate the vote will be Tuesday, June 9 at the four towns’ polling places.
   Directors also approved second-year probationary contracts for Tri-County Technical Center health occupation instructors Nadine Abbott and Sharon Foster; RVCS kindergarten teachers Megan Braley, Katelyn Day and Ashley Fraser-Scott; RHRS half-time French teacher Chelsie Crane; RVCS third-grade teacher Stephanie Daigle; RVCS first-grade teacher Lisa Flemke; RVCS special ed teachers Keith Peavey and Lenora Randall; RVCS guidance director Jeannine Reece; and district music teacher Catherine Strauch.
   Third-year probationary contracts were approved for DHRS math teachers Kimberly Hutchins and Andrew Shorey; TCTC commercial truck driving instructor Vicki Kimball, RVCS art teacher Hillary Langlais and DHRS special ed-alternate education teacher Brian Salisbury.
   Directors also approved the purchase of a new 77-passenger school bus from O’Connor GMC of Augusta for $85,500. The cost is about $5,000 higher than normal, Jordan explained, since it will be equipped with a wheelchair lift. The bus being taken out of service also was handicapped-accessible.
   After a lengthy debate, the board compromised on a request by the DRHS Standards Based Grading Committee for additional professional development time at the end of the school year.
   Special education teacher Peter Devine explained that the staff “needs additional intensive training in our standards-based system along with grading software changes.”
   Devine said that the time would give teachers time to “practice, reflect and research so they would be better prepared for the fall.”
   Some directors said they supported the concept, but had reservations about granting the request because it didn’t go through the appropriate channels. “I am very supportive of these teachers and I understand the tasks involved,” Bilodeau said. “My only concern is that the process wasn’t followed.”
   Jordan said, however, that because there was a “short window” to make a decision, the teachers decided to bring the issue directly to the board.
   Directors eventually voted to grant two days of professional development time to DRHS teachers and one day to the RVCS staff.