The reduction in state aid to the Western Foothills and Telstar school districts for the current school year may not be as deep as originally expected because of the state deficit, but next year promises to be extremely challenging, superintendents said.

Regional School Unit 44 Superintendent David Murphy of Bethel said preliminary estimates show a reduction of more than $200,000 in state aid, compared to last school’s figure of about $168,000.

“It’s a little deeper than last year,” Murphy said. “We’ve already put on a freeze and are trying to recoup as much as we can. We’re expecting a higher number next year.”

Western Foothills School District Superintendent Tom Ward learned similar news this week.

The 13-town district, also called Regional School Unit 10, had anticipated a cut of about $600,000 this year, but learned Wednesday that it might be closer to $500,000, which is about the same amount as last year.

While RSU 10 has not implemented a freeze, Ward said he has asked the district’s 600 employees to be careful and conservative. With carryover, he believes no staff or program cuts will happen during school year 2009-10.

“We still have some stimulus money, but nothing is in concrete,” Ward said. “If (state) revenues continue to decline, the state shortfall could be $100 million.” 

According to a press release issued by the Maine School Management Association, the shortfall is now $38 million.

Ward said positions funded through federal money may be in jeopardy during school year 2010-11.

“If people leave (any job), we will evaluate whether we must fill those positions,” he said.

Murphy said it was too early to know whether any job or program losses would take place in his Bethel-area district. Attrition might be used, if appropriate.

He hopes the state soon will provide a definitive dollar reduction.

“We need a target from the state,” he said. “The longer we wait, the more impact it may have,” because the district will have less time to prepare.

He said the reduction in state funding also would result in the elimination of any carryover the district usually has going into the next budget year.

According to the Maine School Management release, districts were told to multiply the amount of curtailment applied during school year 2008-09 by 1.4 percent.

By mid-December, Gov. John Baldacci is expected to release a proposed supplemental budget that will include cuts to education.

Both districts eliminated several positions during the past school year to compensate for a reduction in state aid. Most of those cuts occurred through attrition rather than layoffs.

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