SALEM TOWNSHIP — The SAD 58 board approved a $9.5 million budget Thursday night and nixed a proposal to contract adult education with Regional School Unit 9 in Farmington.
The board also eliminated the equivalent of one cook’s position.
Board member Mary Jane Thorndike of the Finance Committee said using $700,000 from surplus toward the 2012-13 budget “makes me very nervous,” with only $7,000 left in the checkbook.
There isn’t room for any broken waterlines or leaking roofs, she said.
As the district moves into its new fiscal year, the surplus from the current year will be available, and Superintendent Brenda Stevens told the board that while it’s very tight, it’s doable.
Stevens also reiterated her warning to the board that the 2012-13 budget was not sustainable, and they would need to make major changes as they move into another budget season.
Local assessments for the coming year, compared to this year, are: Avon, $16,124 more; Eustis, $76,210 less; Kingfield, $89,343 more; Phillips, $15,352 more; and Strong, $52,584 more.
The board voted to add $4,000 to fund K-8 athletic officials for softball and baseball and $5,500 to fully fund coaching positions at the high school.
The board voted 5-4 to leave the SAD 58 adult education program intact with a half-time director, rather than contracting services with RSU 9.
Following a presentation by RSU 9 Adult Education Director Ray Therrien, the board voiced concerns over how the program would be integrated into the high school and how the quarter-time coordinator would be integrated into the SAD 58 system.
Board member Marc Edwards noted concerns over how the contractual arrangement would work, and whether there would be sufficient local control.
In other action, the board voted to eliminate the equivalent of one cook’s position, after board member Sarah Strunk of Stratton said she was not in favor of bringing lunches from Kingfield to Stratton. She would support cutting two positions in half, leaving two half-time positions in both Kingfield and Stratton. There’s too much chance for breakdowns or bad weather in bringing the lunches that distance, she said. The board agreed that they would leave structuring how it would work to Food Service Director Angel Allen.
The school budget goes to a districtwide meeting at 6 p.m. May 17 at Mt. Abram High School, and to voters at a referendum from 2 to 6 p.m. May 22.
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