DIXFIELD – Fewer than 30 people from four SAD 21 towns unanimously approved a $9.25 million school budget Tuesday night at Dirigo High School in Dixfield.
By secret ballot during the 30-minute meeting, voters also unanimously agreed to raise $1,434,549 in additional local funds to cover the $989,238 shortfall of the Essential Programs and Services Funding model, since it is funded at only 84 percent.
Superintendent Thomas Ward was unavailable Wednesday afternoon, but district secretary Judy Houghton said there were no big discussions during the meeting on the 10-article warrant.
“Every article passed with no opposition,” she said.
The 27 registered voters additionally approved:
• The Region 9 School of Applied Technology budget of $1,129,968 (local assessment is $347,138).
• The Region 9 Learning Center budget for adult and community education of $232,776 (local assessment is $36,516).
• Raising and appropriating $32,965 for annual payments on non-state-funded debt service.
• Authorizing directors to take out a loan of up to $70,000 to buy a new school bus.
• Authorizing directors to take out a loan of up to $50,000 to buy laptop computers for sophomores.
Houghton also said that as of June 30, the four towns are to operate under one school board and one combined budget.
The 2005-06 budget is the first ever for the newly consolidated district.
In 2004-05, Peru School had a School Committee, while SAD 21 had two: a regular board and a consolidated board with representatives added from Peru, which merged with the district last spring.
The last regular board meeting is to be an impromptu, but public, gathering at 6 p.m. Monday, June 6, at T.W. Kelly Dirigo Middle School.
Houghton said the meeting is to follow a buffet dinner.
Additionally, Ward is to present “gifts of thanks” to board members “who have been with us the past couple of years through the merger process, and the ones who stepped down when the consolidated board was formed.”
Peru’s School Committee is to conduct its last meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, at the Boiler Room Brew Pub and Restaurant, at 284 Main St. in Wilton, said Peru Elementary Principal Brenda Gammon late Wednesday afternoon.
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