The 30 positions eliminated in next year’s proposed budget for Lewiston Public Schools include administrators, education technicians and librarians, Superintendent Jake Langlais said Wednesday.

Admitting that it’s one of the most difficult parts of his job, Langlais reviewed the positions in front of the school committee, and offered some possible solutions to solve the pressures the cuts will cause the rest of the staff.

The school committee expressed concerns about the cuts, as did a few members of the public during a public comment period at the end of the budget workshop.

The reductions aim to trim a $12 million increase proposed for next year’s school budget, which stands at $130.6 million.

“Having said that, if the community wants to support this process and vote on a larger budget, that’s possible,” Langlais said. 

The eliminated positions

Langlais said the work of most of the positions being cut would be given to other staff members.

It’s not ideal, he said, but he’s exhausted other avenues of cost cutting.  

The cuts would save nearly $1.5 million in salaries.

Among the 30 positions are:

● Two administrators.

● A human resource staff person, along with one part-time position.

● A librarian at Lewiston Middle School and one at Lewiston High School.

● A social worker and a supervisor to the district’s social workers.

● Several learning specialists who help with special education needs, literacy and math, and positions that work directly with assisting students.

Input from the committee and public

Janet Beaudoin, vice chair of the school committee, wondered if it makes sense to sell the school department’s 287 Main St. building that is unoccupied, but reserved as additional classroom space. 

Beaudoin pointed out that the district is paying to heat the unused building and that it could be a potential cost saver if it’s sold. Other committee members agreed with her, but acknowledged the space will still be needed to accommodate growing enrollment.

“I appreciate the suggestion on the building on Main Street, and that idea came to me as well, but if we sold that, it would barely cover the reductions from this year and then we would be in the same place next year,” said Scott Harriman, the city council’s representative on the board. 

Chairperson Phoenix McLaughlin decided to table the conversation for another night. 

During the workshop’s public comment period, two teachers speaking as taxpayers advocated for the librarians, which they said are needed for such a culturally diverse high school as Lewiston’s.

Ryan Donovan, a member of the public, also spoke, saying he liked the idea of selling the building. As a former school committee member and current substitute teacher of four years in Lewiston schools, he was upset to hear about the eliminated positions. Based on his experience as a substitute teacher, he said he often is pulled from room to room to cover other classrooms. 

“We should look at other ways to cut the budget, if we need to make those cuts. Me, personally, as a taxpayer, I don’t care if we raise the budget $10 million. I want the students to be supported,” he said.

The school committee’s next budget workshop is Monday at 5:30 p.m. with the City Council at The Green Ladle at Lewiston High School, 156 East Ave.