By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Like most school districts across Maine, SAD 61 officials faced tough budgetary choices regarding staffing, programming and maintenance work in wake of losing state subsidy and federal pandemic relief money.

Finance Director Sherrie Proctor Monday night gave an overview of the Finance Committee’s recommended budget during SAD 61’s School Board meeting at Lake Region Vocational Center.

The proposal calls for $36,936,917 — a 7.78% increase. Proctor noted that salaries and benefits account for 5.93% of this budget (which is line with school systems across the state).

Initially, budget requests totaled just under $38 million, which would represent a 10% hike. Proctor noted that the figure did not include $1.24 million in additional staffing requests.

“Those staffing requests were mostly positions that we had hired through federal ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding that the administrators would like to keep,” Proctor said.

The budget includes:

• Three social workers — Lake Region Middle School, Stevens Brook Elementary and a shared social worker between Songo Locks and Crooked River.

• A district wide nurse

• Two ed techs at the high school

• 2.5 Special Ed ed techs at Songo Locks

• Additional 40% of a speech position at Songo Locks

• Unified Sports stipend

• Increase of $95,000 in technology services for network upgrades at the high school

A big hit to the general budget is about $395,000 for the Pre-Kindergarten program, which has been funded the past two years by ESSER money.

Maine school districts received almost $600 million in ESSER money. Schools used the funds to expand programming, renovate buildings, hire staff and update curriculums. Money is about to run out — it must be used by Sept. 30, 2024. Proctor pointed out the district’s remaining ESSER funds will be used for PD technology and a mini bus (to transport students requiring special services outside of SAD 61).

Another big expenditure is the state’s Family Medical Leave Act, which starts January 2025, which the state “accepts about 1% of wages from employers,” Proctor explained. SAD 61 is budgeting $110,000 to meet this requirement. With the state mill rate increase resulting in local taxpayers picking up $500,000, “there was an over $600,000 increase to our budget before we even started,” Proctor noted.

There is a “significant” increase in tuition to out-of-district private schools (elementary $500,000 and secondary $300,000 — increases of $225,000 and $150,000 respectively).

“We’re seeing more challenging behaviors from our students this year that make it hard for them to succeed and other students to succeed within our classrooms. They need to be able to get their education at an outside facility,” Proctor said.

Reductions to offset staff requests and other increases:

• 7.5 positions were eliminated, totaling $479,251

• Equipment requests, including one bus, totaled $347,854. The Finance Committee removed $253,000 from these requests.

• Operation and maintenance special projects totaled $303,500; $91,500 was removed.

To pare down the “big budget increase,” Proctor said reserve funds will be used to reduce the overall burden on taxpayers. SAD 61 will look to tap:

• $300,000 from Capital Reserve to the regular education budget.

• $600,000 from Instructional Reserve to help support the Pre-K program and additional social workers requested.

• $450,000 transferred from the Adult Ed Fund Balance into an Instructional Reserve Fund for later use.

If approved by taxpayers, what will be the assessment impacts?

Bridgton is looking at a 5.41% assessment increase ($576,836) for a local contribution of $11,239,300.

Casco is looking at a 4.38% assessment increase ($300,698) for a local contribution of $7,158,531.

Naples is looking at a 5.79% assessment increase ($468818) for a local contribution of $8,570,599.

Proctor pointed out that the state mill increase and state-paid Family Medical Leave Act contribution — “those state factors that we don’t have any control over,” she said — accounted for $266,503 of Bridgton’s increase, $102,747 of Casco’s increase, and $243,587 of Naples’ increase.

Superintendent Smith planned to discuss the proposed budget with Casco officials Tuesday (see related story) and Naples Select Board members yesterday. He will present the budget to the Bridgton Select Board this Tuesday, March 12.

A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held Monday, March 18, at Lake Region Vocational Center’s Great Room.

Power Back-up — SAD 61 will be looking to install generators at the high school and Stevens Brook Elementary School “hopefully this summer.”

With Crooked River already outfitted with a generator, addressed during the construction project there, the district will look to add generators at Songo Locks Elementary and the Essential Services Building in the future — either through the budget or by asking voters to fund via separate warrant articles.

Superintendent Smith does plan to reach out to FEMA to be sure everyone is on the same page regarding use of school facilities during emergency situations.

In other School Board meeting notes:

Named Assistant Superintendent — The district didn’t need to look too far to find a successor for Dr. Patricia Hayden, who is retiring, as SAD 61’s next Assistant Superintendent of Schools.

Courtney Smith, who became principal at Stevens Brook Elementary School in June 2021, was unanimously approved as Assistant Superintendent.

Smith started her educational career in neighboring SAD 72 as a special education and classroom teacher. She later became the district’s Student Support/Family Liaison in 2018.

Smith became assistant principal at Songo Locks Elementary in July 2019, then moving on to SBES.

There were eight applicants for the position. Two candidates were interviewed.

Personnel moves — Directors approved the transfers of Bailey Hett, an Alternative Education teacher at Lake Region Middle School to a Social Studies teacher at Lake Region Middle School for the 2024-25 school year; and Marco Passini, a Lake Region High School teacher, to Computer Technologies instructor at Lake Region Vocational Center for the 2024-25 school year.

Choral Night — Students from Grades 4 to 12 will combine their talents for a night of choral singing on Wednesday, March 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Lake Region High School auditorium.

Career Fair change-up — Rather than host area businesses for a Career Fair on just one day, Lake Region Vocational Center’s Walter Ridlon will take a different approach this spring.

Over eight Thursdays, the fair day will focus on a certain career area, such as health occupations, construction and law enforcement. The idea will remain the same, link up employers with students.

Back on Board — Director Deb Albert reported that the Personnel Committee is looking to return student representation on the SAD 61 School Board. A change in policy will open two student two-year seats on the board — with one rep being a senior and the other a junior.

Interested students will be asked to write a “couple of paragraphs” as to why they wish to serve.