RUMFORD – The SAD 43 board began work on its 2007-2008 budget Tuesday night by hearing requests from building principals and the athletic director. Their proposals showed a few thousand dollars net increase for equipment and supplies.

Additional requests from other department heads will be heard at the March 19 board meeting. Then, the board will hold its own budget session March 26. Both meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. in the library of Mountain Valley High School.

As a general overview of a proposed budget for the upcoming school year, Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said one position will likely be cut from Mountain Valley Middle School, and a part-time districtwide social worker position could be expanded to full time. A second-grade position at Meroby Elementary School will likely be replaced with a fourth kindergarten class.

Other staffing is expected to remain the same for the coming year, although some changes could be made next year when the student population is expected to decline.

Hodgkin also anticipates putting a bond issue before voters to cover capital projects including a new track at the middle school. He said the current bond note will be paid this year.

Voters in the four-town district approved a $14.3 million operating budget for this school year, which ends June 30.

Although administrators’ requests were relatively low, they make up 20 percent of the total district budget.

Personnel costs make up the remaining 80 percent.

With the state’s mandate to pay a minimum of $30,000 a year for beginning teachers, together with the recently settled staff contract that resulted in increases for each step along the career ladder, Hodgkin said he couldn’t yet predict the final figure SAD 43 residents will be acting on in June.

In other matters on Tuesday, the board granted continuing contracts to high school Principal Matthew Gilbert, high school Assistant Principal Christopher Decker, Meroby Principal Scott Drown, Rumford Elementary School Principal Anne Chamberlin, Director of Special Education Diane Taylor-Moore, athletic director John Bernard, and technology coordinator Wally Devoe.

A second year contract was granted to Paula Leavitt, assistant director of special education.