Looking toward the future of SAD 4

To the Editor;

The communities have spoken and the budget committee has answered. The budget going forward to the community of voters on July 26 is good both for education and the taxpayers!

Over the last few years the student population in SAD 4 has been declining. Consequently as teachers retired, they were not replaced. The student population at the elementary school requires two teachers per grade level with an occasional third teacher needed for larger classes. The days when three teachers were consistently needed in each grade is not the current need now; nor do we see it in the next few years to come. The budget going forward for the next year has three less teachers at PCES. The average class size remains near current levels of about 15, with a spike in grade 3.

The Middle School has two more years of large classes of 45-55 students per grade level before it diminishes to 35-45 students. Even with the elevated numbers in the Middle School, the High School has experienced a steady decline in student enrollment. This results in a reduction of needed teaching positions. What this indicates is that fewer class periods are needed to meet the appropriate class sizes. With fewer students, teaching positions are adjusted. The budget going forward has the equivalent of 3.5 less teaching positions at PCSS.

There are some teachers that are shared between the High School and Middle Level students: art, health, industrial technology, music, and physical education. There is an established period for the above subjects in the day that is dedicated to middle level to make sure that all students experience these classes. In the subject of physical education, students at the High School can fulfill their credit requirement their freshman year. In the subject of health, students at the High School can fulfill their credit requirement their sophomore year.

In teaching health and physical education, three classes are offered at the High School, one at the Middle School, and a planning period resulting in a five-period teaching load ‚Ä“ this is equivalent to a half-time teaching position. With respect to taxpayers, it is irresponsible to pay any teacher a full salary for a half-time teaching load. It is also unfair to other teachers with a full load to have colleagues not fulfill the same expectations for equal pay. This is not to say teachers are not respected and thought of as “pillars in the community.” They are! We as a district must be responsible to all: student, parent, teacher, and community. Therefore the full-time teaching positions of health and physical education are reduced to half-time.

In this budget, the curriculum coordinator is cut to half-time. This position supports the teachers in developing their program of study, curriculum, and individual lessons. The curriculum coordinator also supports principals by helping the teachers improve their teaching. Other duties of this position include maintaining the curriculum database, uploading data for teachers and students, facilitating the work to meet mandates, administering state and federal testing, and writing and tracking grant monies. This work will need to picked up by the superintendent, principals, technology coordinator, and teachers.

The transportation director’s contract is changed to an 11-month period. This covers getting ready for the school year to begin, when the students are present, closing out the school year, and checking on the department during the summer.

The finance director is cut to four days per week. This results in approximately one day per week that the financial information of the district will not be readily available.

We encourage you to pass this budget, as it is good for students and the taxpayers. There will be an informational meeting about the budget on Tuesday, July 19 at 6 p.m. After this meeting, there will be a District Budget Meeting where each cost center with its allocated money will be voted on. At the last District Budget Meeting, money was added and subtracted in various cost centers. Please know that any added money is not a guarantee that positions or supplies will be increased. And, likewise, if money was eliminated, positions or supplies will not automatically be cut.

The public is encouraged to pass the budget as it is educationally sound for students and demonstrates fiscal responsibility for taxpayers.

Ann C. Kirkpatrick,
Superintendent