Under the suggested school budget, 18 positions would be eliminated.
FARMINGTON – Eighteen staff positions in SAD 9 would be eliminated under the proposed 2004 budget presented Tuesday night. The cuts will save the district around $400,000.
The announcement overshadowed the fact that the $21 million spending package is less than a 1 percent increase over this year.
Superintendent Michael Cormier unveiled the proposed budget for the nine-town district at Tuesday’s school board meeting. His proposal is an increase of $145,809 over last year.
Proposed cuts include eight elementary teaching positions, six assistant coaching positions, two study hall monitors, the registrar in the Guidance Office, one custodian and one bus driver.
One of the elementary teaching jobs was transferred to the technology department.
About 78 percent of the district budget is allocated to salaries and benefits, Cormier explained, and so the only way to realize noticeable savings while honoring contracts is through staff cuts.
“It’s not been an easy budget to put together,” he said.
The goal is to layoff as few people as possible by shifting current staff into positions left vacant by those retiring this summer.
Out of the 117 K-12 school systems in the state, 90 spend more per student than SAD 9.
Cormier said when developing the budget, the administrative team was sensitive to the economic hardships both locally and statewide, and considered information gathered at community meetings held with selectmen in each of the nine towns earlier this year.
While the proposed budget reflects an increase of $145,809, the local assessment would increase $552,915 due to a $123,668 decrease in state funding.
The state is projected to kick in $11,314,524 based on the proposed figure while the local allocation from taxes would be $9,114,616.
Farmington Town Manager Dick Davis commended the district, saying he was impressed and appreciative on behalf of the town and its taxpayers. He added that he wished the state funding picture looked better.
SAD 9 board Chairman Greg Webber said the board moves forward with no sense of elation with this budget.
The board will work on the budget each Tuesday through May 11, with only Tuesday, April 20, off due to school vacation.
The board seeks to present the budget in each town. Copies of the budget will be available in local libraries soon.
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