LIVERMORE FALLS – SAD 36 directors approved a nearly $8.19 million budget for the 2005-06 school year Thursday, which will go to voters in Livermore and Livermore Falls in June.
Although the spending plan reflects an increase of $246,698, or about 3 percent, over the existing budget, Superintendent Terry Despres said, the two towns’ school assessments would total $3.27 million, $202,331 less than last year’s.
Directors also voted to appoint Livermore Elementary School Assistant Principal Jeannine Backus as interim principal as of May 27. That will allow Principal Terrie Roberts to resign early to go to her new job in Florida.
The board also approved a new administrative team structure as SAD 36 moves toward regionalizing support and administrative staff with the Winthrop School Department. All of the new team’s people are on the staff now, except for a half-time owner’s representative, who will oversee construction projects and be paid for through construction funds. What will change will be people’s job descriptions.
The new structure is expected to cost about $90,000 less than the existing structure.
Despres will oversee both school districts under the titles of superintendent, business manager and regional director.
Even if the one-year pilot regionalization program doesn’t continue after the agreement runs out, the administrative team structure would remain in SAD 36, possibly with some job title changes.
Over the opposition of Jean Tardif and Elaine Smith, board members approved increasing the total available for board stipends and for major projects using increased state aid funds. The total amount was $6,935 for both categories.
The money to go into major maintenance projects is $3,685.
The directors’ stipend budget was increased by $3,250 to $8,515 in anticipation of board members having to attend more board meetings due to coming construction projects.
Despres said he put the additional money into a discretionary account so that it could be spent with board approval.
Board members currently receive $15 per meeting, said Chairman Denise Rodzen. The maximum amount a board member could receive under state law is a $25 stipend per meeting, she said. The board did not set the amount of a new stipend.
Despres said the increase could help with gas and increased meetings, although he noted that most board members donate their stipends back to activities for students.
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