JAY — Despite many program cuts and personnel reductions proposed for Regional School Unit 73’s fiscal year 2018 budget, adult education is seeking an increase.

Spruce Mountain Adult & Community Education Director Robyn Raymond explained the importance of the program at Thursday’s budget meeting. She said 70 people recently laid off from Verso Paper’s Androscoggin Mill in Jay had reached out for education and retraining for other careers.

“It’s our mission to assist them,” Raymond said.

The fiscal 2017 adult education budget is $249,000, and for 2018 it is proposed to increase to $275,000. Raymond said this is because a full-time math teacher will be hired to meet the needs of the displaced workers.

“We are seeing a lot of people coming into this program who are displaced workers,” said Superintendent Kenneth Healey. “This is the one area of the budget where we are asking for additional money from our community.”

Raymond noted that the enrollment in the College Transitions program had dramatically increased.

“By offering College Transitions at Spruce Mountain Adult Education, we have helped over 25 families stay in our community after being affected by job loss,” she said.

Raymond said that since she arrived as adult education director two years ago, enrollment in community education courses has grown from 186 to over 600.

In the 2018 budget, the district’s technology director position is slated for elimination. Technology Director Craig Suttie spoke about the ramifications of the potential cut, which would save $66,000.

“It’s not what I wanted to see happen for the integrity of technology resources,” he said.

In a letter, Suttie detailed the impacts of losing the position. A few of them are:

• Someone working 24/7 to ensure networks and servers are functioning so students can log on.

• Loss of the Google Administrator.

• Loss of the person who ensures payroll services run and that data is protected.

• Loss of the person who manages and oversees the Maine laptop initiative program and other laptop purchases.

• The loss of the person who maintains the phone system, ensuring that calls and pages from staff, parents and faculty make it to their destinations.

Transportation Director Ken Vining provided highlights from his budget. He explained that the budget decreased by $29,590, and facilities down $56,139 over last year.

“I realize we’re not going to be able to take care of a lot of things,” he said.

There will be one more pre-kindergarten bus run. No new buses will be purchased next year.

The contract with Bailey Bros. Ford for mechanical repairs to RSU 73 vehicles expires June 30. Vining said he would look at all options to get the best possible deal on a new contract, including looking at other firms who could do the work.

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