LIVERMORE FALLS – Parents of next fall’s fourth-graders told the SAD 36 Board of Directors Thursday they don’t want a teaching position cut.

Responding to rumors of elimination of a staffer to save money, spokeswoman Angela Richards told the board three instructors would not be enough for the 64 students in that grade.

“Before you do it, I wanted to have my say,” she said.

Such a cut would mean 21-22 students in each classroom, and Richards said that is too many when they will be taking the Maine Education Assessment test.

Superintendent Terry Despres assured the parents that no decision had been made, and Chairman Denise Rodzen said their input was appreciated. “We need to hear you, we’re glad we have concerned parents out there,” she said. “Together we can come up with a better plan,” Despres said.

The parents’ concerns will be addressed at the April 24 meeting when the board will prioritize items proposed for the Part II budget.

High School Principal Rod Wright announced that the Promising Futures Gates grant application has been chosen as one of the 24 to be moved on to the next step, a site visit during the week of May 5 or May 12.

“I appreciate the work my staff has put into this,” Wright told the board. The team will attend a workshop July 8-10 at Bowdoin College, he said.

Despres urged directors and residents to attend a hearing on the minimum level at which schools should be funded at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, in Room 127 in the state house.

“The state needs to do its fair share, we need to speak in one voice,” he stated.

Chairwoman Denise Rodzen and Vice Chairwoman Jean Tardif spoke about their trip to the National School Boards Association at which they were the only representatives from Maine.



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