By Winslow Durgin,Special to the Sun Journal

MINOT – Although the school year is just beginning, two department heads warned the School Committee this week that their budgets are in trouble to the tune of more than $33,000.

Special Education Director Barbara Hasenfus, noting that costs are always difficult to forecast, said she was happy to report that what appeared to be a $25,000 shortfall a month ago might turn out to be only $12,000.

Union 29 Director of Operations Gordon Murray said the rising energy prices could create a shortfall of $21,204 in just the heating and transportation fuel budget lines.

Murray said one number that is sure to remain constant is the cost of heating oil, which is locked in at $2.08 per gallon through the cooperative bid with Lewiston and other towns. At that price, Murray pointed out, if the amount used is the same as last winter, the heating oil account alone will be $12,707 over budget.

He further noted that costs for propane and diesel fuel remain pegged at market price and could rise more than the predicted $8,500 increase.

“No way you are going to close that gap. If we could save $5,000, I’d do a dance,” said Murray.

Noting that conventional steps to conserve fuel consumption at the Minot Consolidated School and in the bus fleet have for the most part been implemented, Murray offered a set of more aggressive conservation methods:

• Lowering thermostats to 68 degrees.

• Closing the building on nights and weekends.

• Cutting field trips and sports trips.

• Re-evaluating walking distances and pickup point policies.

• Going to a four-day week, completely closing the building the remaining three days.

The notion of going to a four-day week met universal rejection. The committee agreed to order thermostats set at a maximum of 70 degrees and directed Murray to come up with a list of detailed suggestions to cut fuel use.

“All things short of a four-day week,” Chairman Colleen Quint said.

In other business, Superintendent Nina Schlikin reported that results of last year’s MEA tests indicated the fourth-graders are making good progress. The eighth-graders have some work to do and the 11th-graders had very good scores.

In her report, Principal Margaret Pitts noted that Minot Consolidated School students raised more than $1,000 for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and, by means of a walk-athon, raised more than $2,000 for the Diabetes Association.

“I was concerned about holding simultaneous fund-raisers, but the kids exceeded their goals on both efforts,” said Pitts.

The committee took no action on a contract with Minot teachers, as the one negotiated with union leaders has yet to be ratified by the teachers association.

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