LIVERMORE FALLS — Jay resident Dan Ryder issued a challenge to the Regional School Unit 73 towns of Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls at Thursday night’s school board meeting, saying he had heard nothing about investing in the community or the schools.
“I understand the fiscal realities,” he said. “Think about ways our schools could be improving our area economically. This school district could still be that. It takes a concerted effort.”
“We have been hit with hard times, but you’re right, the community needs to back the schools and sometimes I question whether that’s happening,” school board member Tammy Frost said.
Spruce Mountain Middle School Principal Scott Albert proposed that instead of cutting an administrative assistant, a secretary’s position be cut. He said the board had asked him to cut $33,000 from administration.
“I believe the intent for that was to put back the special education teacher and the primary school teacher,” he said.
Albert said cutting the secretary’s position would save $36,000, and leave the school with one secretary.
Spruce Mountain Elementary School Principal Chris Hollingsworth said he had been tasked with looking at a different administrative configuration at his school to save money. He said the administrative assistant at his school had been slated for elimination but performed various secretarial duties that were extremely helpful.
“I’m looking for a way to cover the building so we don’t have shortfalls in that area,” he said.
Hollingsworth proposed that in place of the administrative assistant, a half-time secretary could be put in to save some money.
School board members talked about all the cuts that had been made at Spruce Mountain High School with the proposed budget and how they were concerned about the impact on the quality of education.
Frost highlighted the potential cut of the digital arts instructor. She said this would force students to take a limited number of classes to satisfy their art credits requirement.
“I just don’t think there’s enough fine arts offerings if we cut digital media,” she said.
“The high school’s taking the brunt of everything,” said board member Joel Pike, noting that many of the proposed budget cuts were coming from high school programs.
Board member Darcie Calden asked about cutting a school nurse, and having the district’s three schools in Jay share one nurse because they were close by.
Board member Amy McDaniel responded that it would be impossible for one nurse to meet the needs of three schools and that some staff would have to be trained to do some of the nursing duties.
Spruce Mountain High School teacher Dan Lemieux said he was concerned about the school having enough electives.
“If we keep paring back too much, the kids aren’t going to have opportunities to find success,” he said.
