AUBURN – Auburn’s alternative school programs are on the move, literally.

The school committee voted Wednesday night to move the Franklin alternative high school program and the Merrill Hill alternative middle school program from the Chamberlain Building to the empty Webster School. Also going to Webster will be some adult education day classes.

The Regional Education Treatment Center will move into the Chamberlain building.

The programs are being relocated because school department property on Mt. Auburn Avenue that holds RETC has been sold. A new home for the program needed to be found, since the program must move out this June, said Superintendent Tom Morrill.

Before the alternative programs can move into Webster, an estimated $477,000 worth of work is needed, including a installation of a sprinkler and alarm system, replacing stairway doors, and building a handicap accessible bathroom.

There weren’t many other options to house the program, Morrill said, except for closing the East Auburn Community School and moving those students to other schools. “That would save money,” Morrill said.

Committee member Bonnie Hayes asked if the decision on the moves should wait until after the school master plan is complete. Morrill said time is growing short, and that a new home for the RETC program must be found soon.

City Councilor Ron Potvin, the mayor’s representative on the committee, asked where would the money for the renovation work come from.

Morrill explained the school department would seek a revolving loan from the Maine Department of Education, adding such loans are “very kind and generous.” Half the loan would have to be paid back, reducing the renovation cost to $200,000-plus. Business manager Jude Cyr stressed the $477,000 is only an estimate, and bids for work may come in lower.

Committee member Lane Feldman didn’t like hearing that closing the East Auburn Community school was a possibility. Closing that school came up last year during budget discussions. “Here’s my little school again. This needs to end, and it needs to end tonight,” Feldman said.

Budget ups, downs

In other business, Morrill shared some projected budget ups and downs. The council recently voted to limit the city’s property tax money for next year’s education costs to $15 million – $475,000 less than last year. Meanwhile the state is cutting some of its aid. Some will be made up by federal money, but not all, Morrill said. Additionally, some federal Medicaid money for special ed will also disappear. How much isn’t clear.

Morrill said some cuts were not final.

Auburn will receive more money from the state as it funds 55 percent of the city’s education costs, an increase from last year. How much it will receive from state taxpayers isn’t known, but a figure is expected to be released soon, Morrill said. Better budget figures also will be coming soon, he promised.

The committee will work on the proposed budget in March, and forward their recommended budget to the city council in April. Unlike past years, the council will have line-item votes in 11 areas of the school budget. A citywide school budget referendum is scheduled for May 8, Morrill said. This year is the first that taxpayers will be asked to approve or reject school spending.