By Daniel Hartill,Staff Writer

POLAND – Higher fuel prices could force Poland schools to lower thermostats and lighting this winter.

If nothing changes, the shortfall for heating oil and gasoline could top $80,000, School Union 29 Assistant Superintendent Marc Gendron said Wednesday.

The entire school system will be affected, said Gordon Murray, the union’s facilities director.

Last week, the school union locked in a price of $2.08 per gallon for its heating oil. The numbers are being calculated for schools in Minot and Mechanic Falls, the union’s other two member towns.

For Poland, the shortfall might force substantial cutbacks.

In a presentation to the Poland Regional High School Committee Wednesday, Gendron and Murray introduced a list of possible cost-saving ideas, talking points to start discussion.

They included lowering the temperature of the schools from 70 degrees to 68 degrees, closing the buildings at night and on weekends and even reducing the school week to four days.

Since the heating oil price is set, accounting for three-quarters of the projected shortfall, there will be few remedies to spending the money and cutting costs elsewhere, Gendron said.

“The only variable on the heating oil is how much we use,” he said.

The Poland Regional High School uses 300 gallons of heating oil per day, Murray said.

A more detailed report on the energy issue is scheduled for the Oct. 5 meeting of the Poland School Committee.

“The board will do everything in its power to not go back to the town for more money,” said Ike Levine, committee chairman.