BETHEL — The SAD 44 board voted unanimously to readmit a Telstar Middle School boy Monday night following a closed session.

Superintendent David Murphy said the boy had been expelled from school in January for possessing drugs on school grounds in December. A second boy who had also been involved and had been expelled, was readmitted in February.

Both boys had to meet certain criteria, such as completing their studies, and undergoing counseling, if deemed necessary.

Murphy said the board also learned of a net loss to the district for the upcoming school year that is less than originally thought. Although the district will lose about $410,000 in federal stimulus funds, Murphy said the state has promised slightly more aid than anticipated, resulting in a loss to the district of about $335,000.

He said some positions will likely be lost when the proposed budget is put together. The Finance Committee will present its recommendations to the full board during the first meeting in April.

In the interim, the administration has been searching for ways to reduce the cost of operations. Earlier in the year, a decision was made to move the central office from the former Ethel Bisbee Elementary School to a section of Norway Savings Bank. That move, expected in July, will save the district thousands of dollars.

Murphy said he is also meeting with town managers and selectmen in the district’s member towns to try to find ways to share resources, such as using fuel bids.

The board’s next regular meeting was moved to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, at Telstar High School.

At that time, the results of an energy audit of the Telstar complex will be presented by auditors, Bravo Zulu Energy of Topsham.

Murphy said the district has been aware of the energy inefficiency at the school for several years and has saved $1.2 million to address the problem.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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