OXFORD – SAD 17 Superintendent Mark Eastman said Thursday that if the district gets federal economic stimulus money to cover the $70,000 cut from this year’s budget, then employees who made up that amount to save seven workers’ jobs will get it back.

“This is going to be subject to a conference I’m having Tuesday. I”m not sure what the requirements and restrictions are on this,” Eastman said of the $27 million coming to Maine for towns and school districts.

Eastman said he will talk to Education Commissioner Susan Gendron on Tuesday and superintendents across the state in a phone conference to discuss the situation and what it means to school districts.

More than 60 percent of the district’s 605 employees voluntarily gave a day’s pay to cover the $70,000 cut from this year’s budget, after state aid to the district was curtailed.

The employees were recognized Feb. 13 on “ABC World News with Charles Gibson” as its “Person of the Week” for their generosity.

“The money was given to prevent the cuts. If it’s not needed, my recommendation would be to give it back,” Eastman said.

Despite that possibility, Eastman said he has concerns about the budget for the next fiscal year that begins July 1.

“The economic situation is not a short-term thing,” he said.”I don’t know what this is going to do. I’m very concerned about next year. Will the $27 million be there next year? There are too many unanswered questions to be sure.”

Eastman said he will be cautious in recommendations he makes to the Budget Committee next week and to directors at their March 2 meeting. However, he said he is certain that he will not be recommending reinstatement of many of the items that have already been slated for the cutting board to meet the $500,000 curtailment from the state.

“It’s important to look at next year and the year after. I’m concerned about revenues next year,” he said. “I’m cautious.”