BUCKFIELD – SAD 39 directors set Tuesday, June 15, as the date for this year’s annual budget meeting as they continue to work on developing a proposal to take before voters of Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Buckfield Junior/Senior High School.

A flat budget, which would hold the bottom line at last year’s figure of $5,732,257.99, is being considered.

Superintendent William Shuttleworth said keeping the budget at last year’s figure will mean cutting some positions, but he felt the standards presented to the students now can be maintained.

“We have one job to do and one job only,” Shuttleworth said in regard to a possible zero-based budget, “and this is to provide a world class education for all of our students and balance this with the ability of our taxpayers to pay for education. This community has a deep respect for the education of their children and we do not want to do anything to derail our march toward high student performance in regards to the Maine Learning Results.”

As to losing some staff, he cited statistics from the past 10 years that show a declining elementary school population. He suggested the declining enrollment indicated that cuts would not seriously hurt the quality of district education.

A decision on the budget will be made as soon as next month when the budget committee completes its work.

In other business the following stipend positions were approved:

• Ken Farrington, varsity softball coach.

• Scott Violette, middle school baseball coach.

• David Wilkenson, middle school volunteer assistant baseball coach.

• Derek Driscoll, middle school volunteer assistant baseball coach.

• Al Cayer, head varsity football coach.

• Allen Hanson, varsity boys soccer coach.

• Mike Jack, varsity girls soccer coach.

• George Reuter, middle school girls soccer coach.

• Debbie Wetherell, varsity cheering coach.

• Gary Upham, varsity girls basketball coach.

• Cameron Cowett, varsity boys basketball coach.