LIVERMORE FALLS – Beginning this fall, SAD 36 students from all grades will ride on the same bus as the district starts a one-run schedule. Projected hours would be in the 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. range for all levels.

The district will have enough buses to implement the one-run policy, Superintendent Terry Despres told his board Thursday night. He estimates the change should result in $50,000 in savings.

The change will include having bus monitors, providing better overall protection and discipline while letting the bus driver drive, he said. That will also help employees impacted by demands of the No Child Left Behind law.

Despres said that law requires the “most highly qualified educator” be the one working directly with students and raises educational requirements for educational technicians.

“This could mean that some of the ways we’re using techs’ in the classroom won’t be allowed. However, no employee will lose a job because of this. We can offer them other roles in school, such as bus monitors,” he said.

Having all teachers available at the same time will be a plus, Despres said. The administration is looking at having special offerings, such as advanced placement courses, after the regular school day.
Changing duties
Despres is also looking at assigning custodial duties to bus drivers so they would do two or three hours in the buildings or grounds between runs, helping lessen the load now carried by night custodians. Having a head custodian in each building is part of his recommendation.

One-run busing is only one factor in what Despres calls a difficult budget season. “We can’t pin down revenues, we’re waiting for the legislative body to move,” he explained.

“We have to take care of the kids’ needs and still make a fair and reasonable request of the taxpayers,” he explained. “I feel confident that the budget I will present protects the towns from having a huge impact. Barring a collapse at the state level, I thing we’re going to be a pretty good citizen.”

The real numbers crunch will take place at the next meeting, a special session set for 7 p.m. Monday, April 26, followed by an April 29 regular board meeting. He hopes to take the budget to the town in a joint session tentatively set for May 6.

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