Auburn School Department returns education technicians, sports program to budget

AUBURN — The Auburn School Department has returned seven positions and one sports program back into the proposed budget after receiving an additional $700,000 from the state.

Superintendent Cornelia Brown told School Committee members Wednesday that six educational technician positions, a high school substance misuse counselor and baseball’s first team have all been added back into the budget during.

In addition to the extra state funds, the increase in health insurance costs is expected to be less than budgeted, saving the district about $500,000.

The proposed budget now stands at $58.8 million, a 5.7% increase from the current spending plan of $55.7 million. The owner of a property valued at $200,000 could expect to pay about $58 more in school tax under the proposed budget.

Brown said she also accounted for $250,000 in additional costs for out-of-district special education tuition due to a possible emergency rule change from the state.

Maine schools now only pay special purpose private schools for the days that students attend. The change would require school districts to pay for all days on which instruction is provided.

The state proposed the emergency rule change, then withdrew it last week. Brown said she expects it to be reintroduced soon.

“I think I would be disingenuous if I did not tell you that I believe that this is going to go into effect for fiscal year ’24 (the upcoming school year),” Brown said.

The first team for baseball was the only athletic program proposed to be cut that has enough student interest to run, Brown said. Another program slated to be cut, noncompetitive fall cheer, will be taken over by the Auburn Recreation Department.

“It’s a great example of the collaboration and the good relationship that we have with the city of Auburn that they have stepped forward and are willing to do that,” Brown said.

The educational technician positions were slated to be cut from East Auburn, Fairview, Park Avenue, Walton elementary schools and Auburn Middle School.

The School Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed school budget at its next meeting, set for April 19, with the final vote planned for May 3.