NEW GLOUCESTER – A Gray-New Gloucester High School student told the SAD 15 board Wednesday night he’s concerned about the fate of the popular Shaker students course with the pending retirement of teacher Robert Boggs.

The statement by Zach Fields of Gray was made at the public hearing on the $21,041,172 draft budget.

The program for seniors was started by Boggs roughly 25 years ago and often held at the historic Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village on Route 26 in New Gloucester. It has been praised over the years and recognized by the Sabbathday Lake Friends of the Shakers a decade ago.

All fourth-grade students in Gray and New Gloucester tour the village every spring with high school students leading them.

The board took no definitive action on continuing to offer the yearlong class.

Chairman Alan Rich of New Gloucester said, “It is premature to say this program is in jeopardy, but there have been discussions at a school improvement meeting at the high school. “The originator of the program is retiring. I would not be particularly concerned the program will go away.”

The board grappled with new program recommendations and other additions proposed in the 2008-09 budget. The budget reflects a 6.86 percent increase, of which 3.89 percent is the first payment on a renovation bond that upgraded five district schools. The dollar increase over last year is $1,351,409.

A budget advisory committee prioritized support for most programs, but was divided over continued funding for three after-school activity buses for middle school students doing homework and other supervised activities from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The cost would be 40,849.

The board voted 5-4 to continue the program.

The board recommended spending $5,922 to recondition football equipment, but not hiring a math remediation teacher at Dunn Elementary School for $51,787.

Directors agreed to use $53,735 from the insurance fund for fuel cost increases next year, and spend $12,200 for a kindergarten educational technician because more students are expected.

The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. April 30 at the New Gloucester Meeting House to adopt the final budget that goes to voters in June.