RUMFORD – No numbers just yet, but talks began Monday night on the development of the 2006-07 SAD 43 operating budget that could include adding and subtracting positions, realigning how some special education costs are paid, and the impact of the newly established day treatment program.
The board also heard an informational presentation by Region 9 School of Applied Technology Director David Driscoll on a plan to expand the size and number of programs offered at the vocational school.
Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said his goal for the upcoming school budget was to reduce Byron’s school tax.
“If Byron has a reduction, then all four towns will have a reduction,” he said.
The current budget is $13,975,000.
He said he has met with all administrators.
He’s made very few cuts to their initial budgets. “I want the board to see the whole budget request,” he said.
Two bills currently before the Legislature could have an impact on the process, he said. One deals with educational policy and its role in negotiations. The second, involving the possible establishment of charter schools, also could have an impact on negotiations, Hodgkin said.
Other matters to be considered include changing how some special education costs are paid, establishing the position of assistant special education director who would also serve as principal of the Pennacook Learning Center day treatment program and creating a second school psychological examiner position.
At its Feb. 27 meeting, the board will take its first look at the gross proposed budget and review programming, class sizes, equipment and repairs. All administrators are expected to attend most of the upcoming meetings to answer questions on their submitted budgets, said Hodgkin.
Driscoll introduced a tentative plan for more than doubling the amount of space at the Region 9 vocational school, as well as suggestions for new programs.
If all goes as hoped, residents in the vocational region’s three school districts and three unaffiliated towns would vote on a $7.3 million renovation and building project in November.
“Our goal is to look at all programs, then come up with a vision of where the school is going,” he said.
Hodgkin, along with SAD 21 Superintendent Tom Ward and SAD 44 Superintendent David Murphy has been working with Driscoll and the Region 9 board on the proposed project. He said with more programming, more students would enroll and fewer high school students would drop out.
“We want the same opportunities for our kids as the rest of the state,” he said.
Driscoll presented figures showing the impact on school taxes for each of SAD 43’s member towns if the building project were approved.
On homes valued at $75,000, Byron residents would pay about $20 more a year; Mexico, $37; Roxbury, just over $22; and Rumford, just over $25.
SIDEBAR
New contract approved
RUMFORD – SAD 43 board members have approved a three-year contract for the district’s bus drivers, custodians and mechanics.
It includes a pay increase of 5 percent for the first year, and 4 percent for each of the following two years. It also has an added dental benefit, increases in shift differential pay and an increase in dependent health coverage from 65 to 70 percent.
Also, five additional days of vacation time will be provided after five years of service, instead of after seven years of service, and sick time and personal time were combined into leave days. The number of combined days, at 18, is the same as when the two were separate.
Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said the agreement may appear generous, but it really wasn’t because the bargaining unit has been behind the district’s other bargaining units. For example, he said, the total raise received by the bargaining unit during the last three years was only 2 percent. Also, he said, the bus drivers/custodians bargaining unit is the last to receive a dental benefit.
“I believe we have brought them up to par,” said Mexico representative Betty Barrett. “We’re not overpaying them.”
The new contract takes effect July 1.
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