MECHANIC FALLS – The School Committee eliminated two teaching positions Tuesday night in what Chairperson Terri Arsenault said was an effort to keep expenses within the proposed budget.

Arsenault would not name the teachers who may not return in September, but she said one is a K-3 position and the other is a fourth- and sixth-grade teacher.

“We have town meeting on the 20th and anything can happen there,” she said. The voters will make the final determination.

Keeping the school budget down has been a topic of discussion among committee members for several months.

The teachers have worked without a contract since August 2002.

Contract negotiations were discussed in a closed executive session. School Committee member David Griffiths said that while he could not discuss the closed session he did say that the sentiment of the committee and administration is for a settlement soon.

-John Plestina
Greene:

King Foundation makes library gift

GREENE – A gift from the Stephen and Tabatha King Foundation has made the proposed expansion of the Julia Morse Memorial Library likely next year.

Voters at the annual town meeting in March rejected a town donation of $50,000 for the library expansion after emotional pleas from several supporters of the library project.

The Bangor-based charitable foundation headed by the horror novelist donated $75,000 for the expansion of the Greene library, $25,000 more than expected.

The Friends of the Library announced that they are well ahead of fund-raising expectations and hope to break ground for the expansion next spring if further fund-raising efforts produce expected proceeds.

– John Plestina
Mechanic Falls: Affordable

day care to open

MECHANIC FALLS – The School Committee Tuesday night approved an affordable day care at Elm Street School that will be open to families in the community.

School Committee member David Griffiths described the project as a before- and after-school day care for all families in Mechanic Falls.

“It will be self-sustaining. It will not have to pay rent,” he said.

The day care will open inside the school at the start of the school year in September.

“It’s very affordable. It’s actually going to be cheaper than most day cares,” said School Committee Chairperson Terri Arsenault.

Prices have not been established.

She added that grants will be written for possible funding for free or reduced-cost day care for families that cannot afford to pay the full cost.

-John Plestina