KINGFIELD — Regional School Unit 58 directors Thursday addressed concerns about financial accountability and transparency with Superintendent Susan Pratt.

Pratt reviewed budget categories that could be clarified or modified to reflect actual revenues and expenses, including the federally funded Title 1 program. She said on paper the district appeared to be spending nearly twice what it received in federal subsidies for the program.

“We have two teachers in each (elementary school) building who have specialized Title 1 training, but only one is paid from Title 1 monies,” she said.

Pratt suggested one of the two positions could be retitled as an interventionist, which would provide a more transparent accounting report.

“Many schools are hiring interventionists these days,” she said.

Pratt also told directors that last year, $20,000 was transferred from the E-Rate account into the general revenue account, and $14,000 was transferred from the dedicated Pay-to-Play account into general revenue account.

Directors expressed concern that the transfers were done without their approval.

Pratt said she has found no previous history or written notes to explain the reason for the transfers, but she guessed there may have been less revenue than anticipated to pay for commitments.

“In past years, we have overcommitted anticipated revenue,” she said. That makes the bottom line look better, she suggested, but that was a risky strategy.

In other business, directors voted not to change Mt. Abram High School social studies teacher Darren Allen from long-term substitute to a full-time teacher. The weighted vote was 423-506. He began the job in September.

Director Jason Plog of Avon suggested the board interview other candidates before making a decision.

Teachers Andrea Ferrari, Danielle Mathieu and Robin Chase presented an overview of their work with students in the Reading Recovery program for first-graders. The program allows specially-trained instructors to bring low-achieving student to their reading grade level.

Laura White, guidance office secretary at Mt. Abram High School, was named Employee of the Month.

Avon resident Steve Mitchell, president of the Western Maine Gideons Chapter, asked the board to consider allowing the organization to give a Bible to all district fifth-graders. The group provides Bibles to nursing homes, hotels, motels and other institutions. Many schools also allow giving them to students, he said, and the version he suggested has been written with children in mind.

The board agreed to research and review the proposal for a future vote.