School workers back plan for furlough days

POLAND — The Regional School Unit 16 employees' union voted this week to authorize the union board to open the contract and negotiate with the school board and superintendent for up to four furlough days.

"Our goal is to engage the superintendent and school board in conversations for using furlough days to preserve quality education," RSU 16 Education Association Co-president Laurie Callahan said. "Our other goal is to prevent the loss of dedicated employees."

The Education Association represents 171 teachers, education technicians, food service workers, secretaries and custodial staff in the system that serves Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland.

Association representatives would meet with school administrators in the next week to begin discussions, Callahan said.

School Superintendent Dennis Duquette wants to reach a decision by Dec. 1. "We're now moving forward," he said.

Duquette put forward the plan as part of a solution that would reduce the district's budget by $302,000 without laying off staff. He estimated the four furlough days would save $175,000.

The Maine Department of Education is projecting a $38 million cut in General Purpose Aid to Education, the state's share of school funding. For RSU 16, the share is $302,000.

Duquette said the remaining $127,000 that must be cut to meet the projected $302,000 reduction in state aid would come from the school system's regular operating budget.

"Unlike other school systems which have been around for some time, RSU 16 is just starting up and we simply don't have a fund balance which the School Committee could apply toward the reduction in state money. Our fund balance is zero," Duquette said.

He, along with Business Manager Rick Kusterin and principals of the district's five schools, scoured every budget line to come up with the $127,000.

"Some things we couldn't touch, like oil and electricity, but we went after everything else," Duquette said.

Cuts were ordered in office supplies, teacher supplies, dues and fees, employee travel, training and development, stipends, books, professional development and high school athletics.

Two weeks ago, the School Committee approved eliminating freshman athletic teams which, according to figures supplied by Poland Regional High School Athletic Director Don King, will save $15,785. Freshman girls' basketball, boys' basketball, softball and baseball were eliminated.