DIXFIELD — Regional School Unit 10 directors Monday considered $114,600 in budget cuts as they figure out a 2017-18 spending plan for the district’s seven remaining member towns.

With Byron, Dixfield, Canton, Carthage and Peru operating their own school districts starting July 1, Rumford, Mexico, Roxbury, Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner and Hanover are left to pay for educating their students.

Last year’s budget for all 12 towns was $38 million. This year’s proposed budget for RSU 10’s seven towns is $27.73 million, and directors are looking at making more cuts, including athletic training services, co-curricular and athletic stipends, and teacher leader positions.

Teacher leaders help with curriculum and professional development, Superintendent Deborah Alden said. She said they are “valuable to the principals.”

Director Barbara Chow of Dixfield said she thought taking away teacher leaders would take away structure from the staff.

Director Jennifer LeDuc of Rumford said she did not support the additional budget cuts.

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LeDuc said Alden was tasked with keeping the 2017-18 budget at a certain level and has done that.

Directors Charlie Maddaus of Sumner and Michelle Casey of Buckfield disagreed with LeDuc about spending.

“We’re not paying down any debt. Any effort to try to come in as lean as possible (is needed),” Maddaus said.

Chairman Bruce Ross of Dixfield told the board to think about how deep they would need to cut and to remember “our future is our children.”

The board will vote on the budget at its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 1, at Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico.

mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net

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