A second public hearing on a proposed plan for Andover to withdraw from SAD 44 will take place Saturday, Jan. 4.

The town vote will follow on Jan. 7. If approved by a 2/3 majority, withdrawal would become effective June 30.

A draft budget for a new Andover school unit was presented at an earlier pubilc hearing on Dec. 5. It shows that for the 2014-2015 school year the total budget would be $1,237,123.

The town’s consultant on the budget, Jack Turcotte, was asked to prepare the “worst-case” budget in order to be sure all possible expenses were covered, according to town officials.

A total of $1,033,737 would need to be raised locally, according to the budget.

Another $235,400 would be needed for startup costs for the new school system, according to the budget. Selectmen will propose a $400,000, 5-year bond to cover such costs, according to Selectboard Chair Susan Merrow.

The bond would likely be voted upon at the annual Town Meeting in March, she said.

The breakdown of the $1.2 million budget includes $17,200 for the School Committee; $88,000 for the superintendent’s office; $18,000 for the principal’s office; $187,143 for elementary instruction; $2,000 for guidance and counseling; $3,300 for health services; $49,000 for special education; $5,000 for outside special education; $179,086 for grades 6-8 tuition; $338,959 for grades 9-12 tuition; $68,500 for operation and maintenance of plant; $89,600 for transportation; $17,000 for food service; $139,335 for employee benefits; and $35,000 for CTE assessment.

Tim Akers is currently a SAD 44 School Board member representing Andover, a member of the Andover Withdrawal Committee, and a candidate for a new Andover School Committee should there be one. He said last week that should withdrawal be approved, the new school unit’s committee would look for funding from other sources, such as grants and in-kind donations, to try to reduce the budget.

“People have indicated that if we are on our own they would be more willing to donate time and money, such as for making improvements to the building (AES),” he said. “And we might perhaps be more free to apply for grants.”

He reinterated that the draft budget was drawn up conservatively to ensure as many scenarios as possible would be covered, and could therefore be “on the high side.”

The Jan. 4 hearing starts at 10 a.m. at the Town Hall.

Copy the Story Link