PERU – John Turner, said to be the lowest paid superintendent/principal in the state of Maine, was asked by residents Tuesday what he does for his $77,000 salary.

The question was one of many raised by less than 10 people at a public hearing on Turner’s proposed $2,080,285 school budget for 2003-04. The money pays for educating about 190 elementary students at Peru Elementary School and about 100 high school students, who attend out-of-town schools under a tuition arrangement.

Turner said $5,000 of his salary is a stipend for a teacher, who acts as his assistant principal. He explained that his duties include acting as principal and special education director, supervising and observing teachers, hiring personnel, handling disciplinary incidents and writing grants. He said he manages to bring in thousands of dollars each year through grants.

School board member Rick Colpitts said Turner does not get health insurance, so his actual wage is more like $68,000. He said Turner was the lowest paid principal and superintendent in the state of Maine.

Turner’s proposed budget is 4.64 percent more than this fiscal year. Most increases are in health insurance and salaries, which are being negotiated. The budget increase is expected to raise the tax rate 75 cents per thousand dollars of valuation to $15.75.

Questions about why the cost of guidance and counseling would double under the new budget prompted Turner to explain that the former counselor only worked two days. He said it is difficult to hire someone under those conditions so the school department may have to spend $13,000, not the $6,400 it was paying. Medicaid also paid $6,400 toward the cost of a counselor.

A question on the librarian position brought praise for librarian Constance Bragdon, who is paid $28,000 annually. She is not certified and if she leaves the job the school department would be required by the state to hire a certified person. A certified librarian with a master’s degree would cost about $40,000, Turner said.

When the idea of using volunteers for the library was raised, Colpitts said the librarian is considered a teaching position and volunteers could not be used.

This brought up the question of how many state-mandated programs has the state stopped paying for.

Colpitts said there were many not being funded, and he suggested writing political leaders about the issue.

Turner explained that two bus runs might be required for after-school activities.

The school’s phone bill of $3,300 for the year, including cell phones for buses, was questioned. Residents were told the school is required to be under the commercial rate. The cell phones are needed when buses go on trips and can only be used within about a 10-mile radius, it was stated.

The vote on the school budget will be held from noon to 8 p.m. June 30 at Rockemeka Hall.

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