FARMINGTON – The SAD 9 budget has been officially set.

When residents attend the May 19 district budget town meeting, they will consider a spending plan that is $307,575 less than last year.

The SAD 9 Board of Directors set the regular education budget at $23,654,291 at their Tuesday night meeting, and the adult education budget at $311,862. The decrease in the regular budget was to compensate for a loss of state funding.

At the May 19 budget meeting, voters may reduce or approve the board’s recommendations, but cannot raise the amounts in each line. The board voted 8-6 in favor of this format for the articles.

The budget validation vote is set for May 27 in SAD 9 towns.

Directors passed the adult education budget unanimously. Only one board representative, Jo Josephson, voted against the regular budget.

She read a statement giving her perspective, noting that a salary freeze for SAD 9 staff would have saved an additional $380,000 or so. Josephson pointed out that while she had no issue with positions that were added back to the budget after initial cuts, the salary freeze would have saved taxpayers considerable money during difficult economic times.

A discussion ensued regarding the Positive Aspirations for Children’s Education program and educational technicians. Director Helen Wilkey moved to maintain an ed tech at Academy Hill School in Wilton and add an ed tech to the PACE program at Cascade Brook School in Farmington.

“We had such a long discussion last time about the PACE program and what a valuable position it is for the kids who need this service,” she said. “I think it’s a worthwhile investment to keep a program like this going.”

Director Mark Prentiss suggested establishing a PACE program for Cape Cod Hill students in New Sharon if the district was going to have one at other schools. However, he added that many people were struggling to pay their bills, and questioned adding a position that might be cut in a few years.

Chairman Ray Glass suggested the district examine resource sharing to provide more efficient use of current staff.

The board voted 10-4 against Wilkey’s motion.

The proposed elimination of the Cape Cod Hill/Mt. Blue Middle School librarian position also generated debate. Cormier said that for three years, the school district had looked at doing this anticipating a retirement.

Wilkey moved to keep the position. She noted that SAD 9 had supported the librarian getting a master’s degree in her field.

“Now we’re saying, oops, we can get somebody cheaper,” Wilkey said. “I think we’re going to miss the quality.”

The board voted 13-1 in favor of reinstating the position.

Director Robert Flick wanted to see a reduction in the central office with other positions being cut. He moved to reduce the assistant superintendent’s position by 25 percent.

“I think some of the assistant superintendent’s duties could be diverted to some other people,” he said.

Superintendent Michael Cormier recommended against this. He explained that Assistant Superintendent Sue Pratt writes many competitive grants, does curriculum assessment and has been crucial in promoting the new W.G. Mallett School project in Farmington.

“It’s not the person I’m talking about, it’s the position,” Flick said.

The motion for the 25 percent cut failed 13-1.

A Chinese language teacher’s position was kept in the budget by an 11-3 vote. The board also added $53,000 into the budget for a new bus garage roof.

A total of 2.5 secretarial positions were reduced. Cormier pointed out that two full-time secretaries have resigned, and one half-time secretary was taking an ed tech III position. There are three half-time secretaries being eliminated, and two secretaries’ positions are being reduced to half-time.