RSU 10 audit shows $572,000 carryover

DIXFIELD — Regional School Unit 10 business manager Mary Dailey told the board Monday night that a recently completed audit showed the district has about $572,000 it could use to pay bills or carry over to the 2015-16 budget.

The money could be used to partially offset $388,000 owed by the nutrition program or the nearly $500,000 owed in MaineCare claims.

Superintendent Craig King said the lunch program had been self-sustaining until five or six years ago when labor and food costs became more complicated and costly.

“If we close one or two buildings, that would reduce nutrition program costs,” he said. “It’s expensive to bring hundreds of lunches to buildings.”

Residents will begin a reviewing options that could lead to closure or restructuring some of the district’s 11 buildings at a forum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford.

Assistant superintendent and Curriculum Coordinator Gloria Jenkins described for the board a change in standardized testing for several grade levels.

The new test, known as Smarter Balance, will be administered through technology rather than paper and pencil, beginning next year.

In budgetary matters, principals from the district’s middle and high schools outlined the need for several positions that were eliminated during last year’s budget. Among them are:

* An assistant principal stipend, full-time teacher and reinstatement of co-curricular activities at Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico;

* A half-time guidance counselor and study hall monitor at the middle school;

* Restoration of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and restoration of half-time math and half-time science teachers at Dirigo High School in Dixfield;

* Restoration of a full-time physical education teacher and a full-time literacy and numeracy interventionist at Dirigo Middle School in Dixfield; and

* Restoration of a portion of the assistant principal/athletic director position and restoration of a half-time educational technician at Buckfield Junior-Senior High School.

The board’s next regular meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at Dirigo High School in Dixfield.