POLAND — Next year’s RSU 16 budget is slowly coming into focus and Superintendent Michael Wilhelm told the School Committee on Monday night that towns may be asked to raise about $400,000 more than last year.

“At this point in the construction of the budget, it has increased to $19,386,479,” Wilhelm said.

Wilhelm noted that the projected budget anticipates a 10 percent increase in health insurance rates, which adds about $400,000 to the total, and a $191,000 shift in the cost of teacher retirement from the state to the district.

The higher budget also includes the negotiated salary increases for teachers and support staff, as well as 2 percent increases for all other staff.

The Budget Subcommittee has yet to decide whether to recommend a few new positions be added to the budget. These include an additional sixth grade teacher at the Minot Consolidated School, a half-time technology teacher at the high school, and another mechanic.

Wilhelm noted that the district has 39 vehicles “in constant motion” and one mechanic. He figured that the district could about pay for a second mechanic with what its now has to contract out.

The Budget Subcommittee also has yet to take any action in expanding either the music program or foreign language offerings, the need for which has been identified by staff and parents.

Wilhelm noted that the high school currently requires all students to take two years of a foreign language but offers only Spanish. He suggested the high school and middle school should definitely consider having a foreign language, beginning at the middle school level.

Three parents of Poland Community School students asked the School Committee for direction in what they might do to reintroduce the music program that was eliminated a few years ago.

Wilhelm also reported that January’s decision to freeze all discretionary spending following the loss of $113,000 in this year’s allotment of state aid to education had paid off and that it appears the district will be able cover the curtailment made by officials in Augusta.

In other business, the School Committee:

* Approved an official calendar for next year’s school year;

* Named Joe Parent to serve as the board’s representative to the district technology planning committee; and

* Approved the annual seventh grade overnight field trip to Camp Kieve.

School Committee Chairwoman Mary Ella Jones reported that the superintendent search committee was continuing to narrow the field of candidates. She said she expects they will be able to present a candidate for a vote at the April meeting.