DIXFIELD – The SAD 21 proposed budget for 2007-2008 will likely come in at about $10 million once the administrative team reduces the requested amount submitted to the school board earlier this week. Superintendent Tom Ward said he hopes to get the budget below the $10 million mark, without eliminating any jobs. He notes, however, that next year’s spending may be more than this year’s $9.8 million budget.

“We have no recommended position cuts existing now,” Ward said Thursday afternoon.

He said the administrative team is working to reduce the requested budget by about $500,000 by the time the board is expected to approve it at a late April meeting.

A tentative date of May 29 has been set for district voters’ action.

Several open positions, created by retirements or attrition, will not be filled. These include a fifth-grade teacher, leaving the district with four fifth-grade classrooms; elimination of another, not yet specified elementary teaching position; two educational technicians; and one central office secretary.

Ward said the district has lost between 40 and 50 students each year. He expects the upcoming school year to have about 1,100 students.

In other matters, the board approved increasing the requirements in social studies subjects at Dirigo High School from 3.5 credits to 4 credits, effective for the Class of 2011. The board had boosted the number of science credits needed for graduation a couple of weeks ago, and plan to do the same with mathematics sometime next month.

He said the district aims to bring high school graduation requirements in line with the Maine Learning Results by increasing the rigor of the curriculum.

Other action by the board included:

• establishing a step up day for freshmen and new students at the high school; these students will begin the school year one day earlier so they may receive school orientation;

• approved a trip to Washington, D.C., and New York City for 16 high school students from April 14-April 19. The trip is organized by social studies teacher Beth Edwards; and

• approved participation in a basketball tournament in Orlando, Fla., from Dec. 26-31 for the boys’ basketball team; a series of fundraisers will be held to pay expenses.