SAD 46 board of directors recommend budget increase ‘darn close to zero’ for 2013-14

By Bill Pearson
Staff Writer

    DEXTER — The SAD 46 board of directors recommended a proposed budget increase “pretty darn close to zero,” but that doesn’t mean taxpayers won’t be asked to pay more next year. The directors voted 11-0 on May 1 to recommend a $12,953,088 which is $42,817 more than this year’s or a 0.332 percent increase. The district is being required to provide $149,225 more in local funds next year to receive $97,114 less from the state.

    In order to achieve their goal, the directors trimmed $887,839 from the original spending proposal. The school board wants to keep educational programming at a certain level while at the same time being mindful of its impact on local taxpayers.
    “The potential loss of revenue at both the municipal and school levels was something the directors thought hard about. They tried really hard to stay close to a zero budget increase and they came darn close.”
    It seems, if the proposed budget is adopted, it will have an adverse effect on both the SAD 46 taxpayer and staff. The proposal includes the elimination of nine staff positions. The directors recommend not filling four teachers positions; two Ridge View Community teachers are not returning next fall and two Dexter Regional High School teachers are retiring.
    Jordan indicated that each building’s principal would devise a plan for meeting the challenge presented by shrinking staff. At DRHS, the district plans on hiring a full-time advanced math teacher to fill vacancy caused by the retirement of an Algebra II and a part-time advanced math teachers. The district also plans on filling a Spanish vacancy by having the French teacher assume those duties.
    The proposed budget also calls for eliminating four educational technician positions. The budget is also impacted by a 13 percent increase in health care costs.
    SAD 46 will hold a budget hearing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5 in the Ridge View Community School gymnasium. A vote will be held following the budget hearing. A validation vote at the polls will follow on Tuesday, June 11.
    In other action, the directors unanimously approved revising two district policies. The school board has clarified language in their chaperones and overnight events and student hazing policies. The board made the changes due to an incident last fall where the football team conducted a post-season hazing.
    The new policy requires students and staff to report any known hazing incidents. The revised policy also clarifies that it’s the coach’s or team advisor’s responsibility to verbally explain the policy prior to the season.
    The board has also initiated more stringent restrictions regarding overnight stays within the school buildings. At one point, during the football team’s overnight stay last fall, there were only two coaches monitoring 38 players. The revision calls for at least one chaperone per four students for an elementary school stay, one chaperone for at least eight middle school students, and one chaperone for at least 10 high school students.
    The directors along with fellow AOS 94 member, Harmony, entered into an agreement with the town of Athens to join their alternative organized structure. The agreement calls for Athens to join for a one-year trial basis. Athens is attempting to withdraw from SAD 59 (Madison) over concerns their K-8 school may be closed. The town has expressed interest about becoming a permanent AOS 94 member in the future,
    SAD 46 and the towns of Harmony and Athens will split the cost for operating the unit’s administrative, transportation and special education office costs. In 2013-14, SAD 46 will assume 75.26 percent of the cost, Harmony will pay 11.49 percent and Harmony’s share is 13.24 percent.