OXFORD – If the teachers union approves a requested unpaid furlough day, salary savings could top $100,000, SAD 17 Superintendent Mark Eastman said.

Eastman wants to know if a furlough day for the school district is a viable way to cut $100,000 from the fiscal 2009 budget to help cover a $502,000 budget deficit.

Furlough days have been used by the state for years as a way to offset budget deficits.

This week, SAD 17 directors cut $402,000 from this year’s budget and are expected to cut another $100,000 next month to meet the fiscal demands of Gov. John Baldacci’s state aid to education cutback. More cuts are expected in the next fiscal year, school officials said.

Directors have already instituted hiring and spending freezes.

Although the Oxford Hills Education Association, the bargaining unit for SAD 17 teachers, has not been asked, if they agree to a furlough day the savings total $105,000 in salaries, Eastman said.

“This figure does not consider heat, lights, fuel costs etc.,” he added.

SAD 17 managers have approved the move, he said.

OHEA president and Waterford Elementary School teacher James Thornton was not available for comment on the union’s position.