FARMINGTON – A voluntary administrative pay cut headlined a list of $235,000 in reductions presented to the school board Thursday evening, as directors used the at-times contentious meeting to discuss possible further reductions to athletics, extracurricular activities and open positions.
As approved on June 1 by residents of Mt. Blue Regional School District’s 10 member towns, the budget stands at $32.9 million, a 929,273 increase in expenditures above the current fiscal year, or approximately 2.9 percent. That budget was voted down at the June 14 validation referendum, resulting in the administration creating a list of $200,000-plus reductions in a bid to lower the budget to at least a 2.2 percent increase. That, along with an extra $50,000 out of carry-forward, would result in eight of the 10 towns receiving tax assessment decreases. The previous budget had four towns receiving a decrease.
Thursday’s meeting began with Mt. Blue High School Principal Bruce Mochamer and Cascade Brook School Principal Nicole Goodspeed taking the microphone to propose that the school board reopen contract negotiations with the administration. The staff members had proposed reducing a contracted pay increase by 37 percent, saving approximately $17,000 across the entire district.
Mochamer, who noted that the reduction was “unprecedented” in MBRSD or MSAD 9, its predecessor, said that administrators were willing to renegotiate the second year of their two-year contract at the lower increase.
Superintendent Thomas Ward said that he had endeavored to increase the salaries of bargaining group positions, in a bid to retrain personnel that had been leaving the district for better paying positions. Thursday, he suggested the increase had been “too much in too short a time for people to handle.” He said that he “applauded” the administrator bargaining group for coming forward with a proposal to reopen negotiations.
“I just appreciate your willingness to work with us,” Director Jennifer Pooler of New Sharon told Mochamer and Goodspeed. Directors moved to reopen negotiations with the bargaining unit.
Additional, proposed administration-related cuts include Ward taking a zero percent increase to his own salary, a savings of $2,400, reducing the assistant athletic director stipend at Mt. Blue High School by $5,000 and moving a guidance director position, now vacant via retirement, from the administrative to teaching salary level which, paired with another retirement, will save $35,000. Mochamer said that with the previously-factored removal of a half-time Mallett School administrative position, total administration-related reductions in the proposed budget would equal $82,351.
Across the entire district, Ward said, administration costs equated to 7 percent in the budget, when adding system and school personnel expenditures together.
Other proposed reductions include reducing the contingency account from $165,000 to $80,000, cutting $5,000 out of Tech Liaison stipends and signing a new HVAC contract that would save $25,000. Looking ahead to negotiations with “at will” personnel, staff that are not part of a bargaining unit, Ward said he was confident that $18,000 set aside for potential increases could be cut.
A teaching position is also among the proposed reductions. The World Language position at Mt. Blue Middle School is currently vacant and has been generally difficult to fill, Ward said. Through juggling the schedule and reducing the amount of that World Language elective that students could access in seventh grade, MBMS Principal Jason Bellerose said that students would be able to access approximately one-fifth of a year of Spanish at the sixth grade, reduce access at seventh grade from a half-year to a trimester, and then take half a year at eighth grade. Allied Art elective classes would see an increase of four to five students per class, Bellerose said, calling the sizes “a little tight, but manageable.”
Director Iris Silverstein of Farmington said she found the proposed reduction “concerning” given the potential ripple effects of paring back an Allied Art elective.
The administration is also proposing utilizing another $50,000 of the carry forward, along with the previously proposed $500,000, to reduce the tax impact.
Several directors spoke to other reductions they would like to discuss, defeating a motion by Director Keith Swett of Wilton to implement the proposed reductions set the budget at $32.7 million. Swett, Director Helen Wilkey of Vienna and Director Nancy Porter of Farmington were in favor of passing the budget at that total; all other directors were opposed.
Director Cherieann Harrison of Wilton compiled a list of suggestions from Daily Bulldog commenters for the board to review, ranging from proposals the board are in fact attempting, such as reopening administrator negotiations; to proposals to limit budget growth to the rate of inflation; to making cuts to sports and extracurricular programs.
A number of directors expressed interest in continuing to meet and discuss possible reductions. Director Betsey Hyde of Temple noted that there should be further consideration of cuts to sports and extracurricular activities, as well as potentially considering outsourcing custodial or bus driver staff. The latter proposal, which appeared on Harrison’s list of commenters’ suggestions, was attempted several years ago but was abandoned after widespread antipathy from the staff and community.
These ideas were not necessarily pleasant to consider, Hyde said, but were “big ways we could save money for our community.”
Director Pooler noted that while there had been discussion about the rising costs of special education, there had not been significant consideration of reductions to athletic programs, such as football.
Director Kenneth Charles of Farmington suggested looking at chronically unfilled or difficult-to-fill positions in the district, in a vein similar to the World Languages cut.
Several members of the audience addressed the board, speaking to the need to either rein in expenditures or widen revenues by increasing state support for general education. One resident told directors that they should be voting in line with the towns that elected them, and that he was “glad to see” Director Craig Stickney of Chesterville was supporting his town’s vote opposing the budget’s passage.
“Just to correct you on that,” Director Harrison said in response. “The only member of this school board that voted against the budget before it went to referendum was me.”
A few minutes later, Director Stickney said that he wanted to go on record, saying that he had in fact voted to send the budget to the voters and that “it will never happen again.”
He said that he had voted in favor of the budget because he took issue with the budget process. “I, for one,” Stickney said, “felt it was a joke.” He had attempted to flat fund the budget at Tuesday’s meeting, Stickney said, and had his efforts termed “show boating.” Harrison had used that term Tuesday, calling it “irresponsible” for the school board to not impact the budget via actual reductions, rather than setting a final figure.
The 11 directors that voted against his proposal had not said anything for the rest of Tuesday’s meeting, Stickney claimed. “They were waiting for the leash to be hooked to their collar to haul them around to tell them ‘what should I do next Dad?'”
He then produced a small mirror and placed it on the table, saying that directors needed to “look into the mirror.”
Harrison responded: “If we’re going to be looking into mirrors,” she said, “I have yet to see one cut from you.”
Director Pooler also responded to Stickney’s “leash” comment. “I take offense to Mr. Stickney’s comment about being dragged around by a leash because I know many of us do speak about things and do share our opinion and we vote our conscience.”
The Foster Technology Center’s Digital Media Department records the school board meetings, which can be accessed via the school district’s website. Thursday’s meeting can be seen here: livestream.com/FTCDigitalMedia/events/5666357/videos/127500832
The current budget process timeline leaves Tuesday, June 28, as the tentative date for directors to set a proposed budget. If accomplished, the district-wide public budget meeting vote was set for 7 p.m. Thursday, July 14 in Bjorn Auditorium on the Mt. Blue Campus. The validation vote to be held in all 10 towns of the district again could then be held on Thursday, July 28.
Wow.
Perhaps a civics class would be a good idea for some of the Board members.
Kudos to the staff who volunteered cuts to their own salaries.
Really sad reflection on a district with a world class education system. School systems are a huge factor in property values and perhaps district residents in the future will be complaining of the decreasing value of their homes compared to other communities in Maine who do not exhibit the same antipathy with their schools.
By “staff”, I assume you mean administrators only. I am “staff” and have not been asked about this….
I predict that the Administration will propose a 2 or 3 hundred thousand cut. The Board will approve it and the revision will go to the public hearing and thence to the 10 town vote. Which is to say that not much will be cut. I hope I’m wrong and the cuts are more aggressive.
Bill Reid (8 year member of the SAD 9 / RSU 9 Board).
For the first time in Bulldog commenting history, I will remain anonymous. “Why?” you ask. It is apparent that – much like the national and international stages – our local community has now fallen victim to anti-intellectualism. As a result, the tenor of the communication has fallen off, in a frighteningly ugly way.
* Want a better economy?
* Want to be sure that our state – the oldest by median age – still has enough educated younger people to keep our roads paved, our power grid on, etc.?
The answer is (and always has been) public education.
Folks: you get what you pay for. If you want to have an insecure future, keep being anti-education. If, however, you want to be sure that our wonderful state survives, make sacrifices. Put on more sweaters in the winter. Eat less meat. Stop watching cable/satellite and read books / play games instead.
Our state is slated to have a worker deficit of over 100K in a mere sixteen years. If you think that our young people now are undereducated (an unfair claim I’ve read here…), imagine that those same young people will be climbing the employment ladder merely by existing. Your outlook on their skill set **will not matter** because they will be working, and you’ll be dependent on their skills.
We must invest in our futures, or they will be BLEAK.
Student of ‘HIstory’, more sweaters and less meat for taxpayers is your solution to allow waste to continue in the school system? Interesting…
Kudos to Ms. Hyde for suggestions that would not affect academics.
Captain Planet – watching that school board meeting and listening to people talk about what is needed, one thing that was missing was any evidence of “waste.” The cuts they are considering seem painful and difficult, and it’s pretty amazing and unprecedented that administrators who had already contracted relatively small wage increases would voluntarily allow them to be re-negotiated downward as a sign of good faith. Wow! I’m sure that if one can point out real waste, the board would probably jump on it. Well, next month I’m joining the board so maybe I’ll learn more.
The total voting margin of the recent towns’ validation voting defeat was razor thin. I applaud and admire the hard work and dedication of the school board directors as a whole, and administrators, to find/negotiate further cuts. The concept of significantly cutting sports and extracurricular activities as a way to save money without negatively impacting academic and/or lifelong outcomes may seem like a good idea. However a broad spectrum of studies and scholarly articles simply does not support this position.
A recent article by the National Federation of High School of State High School Associations makes a persuasive case for not cutting deeply into these activities as research demonstrates these programs, as a whole, significantly contribute to:
–> Better Educational Outcomes
–> Enhanced School Engagement and Sense of Belonging
–> Positive Youth Development/Life Skills
–> Healthier Behaviors
–> Post High School Positive Results
–> Developing Better Citizens
–> Additional School and Community Benefits
The full article can be read online at: https://www.nfhs.org/articles/the-case-for-high-school-activities/
Please note, at the bottom of the aforementioned article is a link to “Works Cited” which references nearly 50 scholarly articles and/or academic research to support the “Case for High School Activities”.
I don’t understand why this comment was flagged…
Does this include reopening negotiating a new contract for the newly hired/non-experienced principal’s $85,000.00 salary at the middle school? One would think….
Another example of the older generations undercutting the potential of today’s youths so that they can save a minuscule amount on their taxes. It’s very short-sighted and mean-spirited. How about the oldies sacrificing something in order to help children get a better education? That’s what happened in the past when today’s oldies were at school.
It’s also disgraceful that some Board members behave discourteously towards other members. This is not how adults should talk to each other. Civility at all levels in our country seems to be disappearing. We’re going to regret that.
Answer? – Legally I”m pretty sure that’s not an option. When a committee is formed to look over all options, have objective criteria and make a hiring decision, there has to be some trust that they know more than any of us do about the whole situation. I’ve learned over the years that when I stand on the sidelines and think I know better than those who are in the thick of things, I’m usually wrong. I also think people get petty sometimes when they complain about salaries of others. Qualified people with positions of extreme responsibility require decent competitive salaries – this isn’t a job someone can just do off the street.
Scott,
You have made some good points. But I don’t think it is “petty” to question such a hefty salary of someone moving into this position with no experience. Especially since it exceeds the salary of someone who has been in the position for years. I don’t feel petty, rather justified in my asking. And I, as well as others, realized that this is a job someone can do off the street. The $85,000.00 plus benefits package just seemed a bit extreme for a first year administrator. Maybe I am the only one who feels this way, but I really don’t think I am.
Mr. Penn….On a limited fixed income I am not pleased that school administrators are in for huge raises this year so that they will not be lured away by higher money offered at other school districts. For example: the budget shows, the four elementary school principals are each currently getting $76,744 a year. The planned raise for each of these 4 positions is listed as $7212. With their offer to help the budget by allowing a 37% cut, those raises will be only $4543. How about instead, their raises be the same as what we on social security will be getting next year….. $2.50/month or $30.00 a year? Mr. Penn…us oldies have BEEN sacrificing for the school. Each year the school budget has increased by at least $1 million increasing property taxes along the way. The budget is currently at $32.04 million with over $13 million coming from local property taxpayers. How much more sacrifice with satisfy the school?
So, instead of a near zero tax increase for the entire district, with the looked at cuts the other night, approaching a 750,00 reduction from the original budget, providing tax cuts for eight of ten towns in the district.
Administrators are opening their contract to reduce their increase by 37%.
A middle school principle was hire with a wage and benefits package less than the one leaving! Yes, that is correct, the wage and benefit package is LESS THAN the wage and benefit package for the one leaving! Its TRUE. Less than the one leaving…
Tax cuts for eight of ten towns in the district. Enough cuts!
The next cut cuts more from programs, directly! I do not want a larger tax cut, so that I can say I got it, and by the way, we were able to cut activities or classes for kids too! Darn kids anyway, who do they think they are?
As one of the oldies, how much more should we sacrifice. We did not have retirement accounts as they do today. I cannot speak for anyone else, but when I heard that over 47% of the students in RSU 9 are on free and reduced lunches, how much more can these people sacrifice. This shows me the there are many people struggling to pay for necessities. By the way, it was also reported that RSU 10 where Superintendent Ward came from, they have 78% of their students on fee and reduced lunches. Is this where we are heading?
@ Student of HIstory: I don’t believe people are being anti-education.They are being pro-survival.Why should people already struggling to get by make even more sacrifices to give people who are making two to three times as much a $7,000 raise? If it is so important to you,why don’t you put on an extra sweater,eat less meat,ditch your tv and put the money in yourself instead of trying to convince the rest of us we are not sacrificing enough.If the future looks bleak , it is because our government continues to allow our jobs to go overseas,it will not matter how good an education a person has.There are not enough decent jobs here to support the population now.@Lindy: Thank you for your comment.
Answer? – I assume that the salary is market driven (that they analyzed market rates), there is usually a metric for this. But you are justified in asking the question, and I would hope that there would be an answer justifying that amount based on market values (in most cases these involve regional comparisons, etc.) I do not know how that was done, though, so I can’t really speak to it. I also question the claim of “no experience.” I assume you mean the person hasn’t been a principal before. But experience for a job is multi-facted involving what he has done in previous positions. Every President we elect is inexperienced if one goes by the idea of “having been President” after all! I guess I get very nervous when people complain about individual hires and salaries because it seems to presume that the people doing the hiring are incompetent – that they’d hire someone unqualified at a super high salary. I just can’t believe that would be the case; I have a sense that the people involved were very diligent. But it is a public position and you have every right to ask questions and get answers. From what I hear though, there is a lot of optimism about the person hired.
Chickadee – It’s tough comparing salaries of professionals with advanced degrees to average workers. You wouldn’t want the hospital to stop paying market rates to get in qualified doctors because then you’d end up with people like Dr. Nick from the Simpsons! If we don’t have quality principals and teachers, our schools will fail. Indeed, leadership is really important – it doesn’t change the budget too much to make sure you pay a principal a competitive wage, but losing a person because they’ll make more elsewhere risks ending up a second rate leader – and thus a second rate school. But to your larger point – yeah, with funding the way it is, it’s tough to balance community concerns and school needs. Higher state funding would transfer some money from wealthier regions to poorer regions like ours, reducing the burden. I think you’re right too that people aren’t anti-education. Both sides have valid points, and listening to each other even if one disagrees is what our system is based upon. The right to freedom of speech is meaningless if no one listens! And I get the sense people are starting to listen to each other more.
Mr. Erb. These administrators are making more money than 90% of the professors at UMF. Most of the
Administrators have a master’s degree, I believe one may have a PHd. All the professors have a PHd.
Many of these professors have been educating our teachers and administrators for years and years. How
Is it reasonable that these administrators make more than all those professors who have the highest level
Of education. The Maine.gov website (office of policy and management) lists the average median family
incomes in each school district. The average of all the towns in our district is $38,341. That is the average
“family” income which would be both adults in the family if they both work. Our high school principal
Currently makes a hair under $90,000 (salary only) and he is scheduled to get a $7000 pay raise which will
Put him a few hundred dollars ahead of the Skowhegan high school principal. However, the median family
Incomes for the Skowhegan school districts towns is $44,973, about 17% higher than ours. And they have
A thriving paper mill injecting millions of tax dollars into their system. We have no large industry here, but
We have a university with lots and lots of tax exempt buildings. Our Vo-tech director currently makes about
$81,000 per year salary and he will get a $9,200 pay raise this year. The Maine Department of education
Has done lots of work to give the school districts information of suggested salaries based on market data
Collected in every community. This data is on their website. According to their data, Skowhegan principals
Should make about 7% more than ours. Using that information, our HS principal should be paid $90,000.
Every admin position has the same overly generous pay raise coming this year. Their offer of a 37% cut in
Their raises was a wonderful gesture and a great starting point. Hopefully they will think about the hundreds
Or maybe thousands of families in this area who haven’t seen a pay raise in years, and the many seniors who
Haven’t had any increases in their social security for years.
Mr. Erb, that is a good point about administrators holding advanced degrees. It is important to note that not only can’t anyone off the street walk in and do those jobs, but these are people who have masters degrees at the least and doctorate degrees at the most. It stands to reason that someone who has successfully completed many years of post graduate education would earn a higher salary (commensurate with the responsibilities of the job) even in our neck of the woods. The idea that someone with a college degree and experience in their field, shouldn’t earn $40,000 or $50,000 or more for administrators, over time is a bit naive. It’s really important that we look at both the big picture and the little picture. In the short term we could save some money by cutting wages, not giving raises, not requiring master’s degrees within 10 years but in the long run that really hurts the district. Losing experienced employees; teachers, administrators, ed techs, even secretaries, bus drivers and/or maintenance staff hurts the district. We invest in our employees and by treating them well and rewarding excellence and longevity we retain the fruits of our labor.
Another important point is that administration is always under scrutiny, keep the teachers, cut the administration, we hear. But what agency or business with hundreds and hundreds of workers and “clients” (students) doesn’t have a boss? Or several bosses? Or managers? Dr. Ward is in charge of the WHOLE district, that is all the staff, all the students, all the laws and regulations, policy, initiatives, nutrition, safety, health, wellness, personnel, disciplinary issues, working with unions, working with parents and the community, a huge budget and on and on. The next line to look at are building principals, they are responsible for all of their staff, personnel issues, scheduling, fire drills, academics, discipline,extra curriculars, supervision, dealing with parents, solving problems etc etc. Do most people have any idea how many hours all of the administrators work? I’m not going to go into what is involved in every level of staff but we have excellent employees, amazing programs and wonderful kids. When someone is looking to move into any community one of the first things they look at is the school district. Our offerings are comprehensive and impressive and are a real selling point for new industry and new workers moving into the area.
There are people on fixed incomes who will struggle to pay their taxes, that is absolutely true. I don’t think anyone is disputing that. And I don’t think that people are anti-school or anti-student, I think they are pro-themselves. The infighting and negativity needs to stop. Our children are watching and it’s embarrassing. The administration has taken an unprecedented step by offering up a portion of their pay. They didn’t have to do this and it is a testament to how hard they are working to compromise. What will it take for the no voters to compromise? Please, please, please pay attention to civility and respect on both sides. We are ALL in this together, we are all friends and neighbors, let’s start acting like a community and not the Sharks and the Jets.
Chickadee ~ I **do** put on extra sweaters, keep my thermostat at 65 degrees, eat less meat, drive used cars, and do not have cable/satellite, a family camp, or a snowmobile. I also willingly pay higher and higher taxes – as I realize that the only way that our wonderful state is going to stay afloat is if we work together – by paying the taxes that are necessary to pave and plow our roads, to keep our public safety departments staffed, and to educate our future work force (one that will be significantly smaller in a mere fifteen years).
All of these sacrifices have come because I know that I, as an American, have agreed to the social contract. In other words, I understand that all American children are the responsibility of all Americans – not just their parents. It is this responsibility that our school board has been valiantly battling for (at least the civil, level-headed ones…).
As a student of history, I know that my forefathers and foremothers went without coffee, sugar, meat, and flour when times were tough (during The Civli War, as well as during World Wars I and II). It’s just what patriots did – for the greater good.
Our country will be no stronger than our neighbors to the south, should we start believing that education should only be funded by the parents of said children. That kind of thinking has resulted in a HUGE schism between the upper and lower classes in most South American countries. We **don’t** want to have that schism widen here! Have you read about how the drug cartels run Central America? They are able to do so because there aren’t other opportunities, as there has not been widespread, public education (among other reasons…).
Into educational vacuums runs crime. Think of the heroin overdoses that our state is already dealing with; if we don’t continue along the path of a well-educated population with a communal sense of responsibility, we’ll have much more than occasional heroin overdoses to deal with.
What I’m saying is that people want to have lower taxes, paved roads, a capable workforce – and they believe that all this is possible without sacrificing their material wants. As a citizenry, we need to scale back our expectations of “normal living” so that we can maintain – and fund – the underpinnings of our liberty.
Yes, jobs matter. However, I respect what the original pilgrims and patriots created too much to forget that their legacy is ours to uphold.
Democratic principles need to matter, or we’re lost as a civilization.
So Scott, I believe it is mostly average workers supporting RSU 9.Is the average worker supposed to forclose on his house or starve to make sure that the professional with an advanced degree can get the pay they are entitled to in this area?Most professionals choose to live here for the atmosphere and beauty or because they have roots here.If they expect the average workers to keep increasing their pay and benefits when they don’t earn any more,the well is going to run dry.The blue collar workers in this area work hard for their money and deserve to be able to keep some of it for their own enjoyment.There are more unpaid taxes in my town than ever.More people are using the food bank.The well is running dry. We need to come up with other ways to fund education to share the burden to ease up on property owners…perhaps a tax on entertainment or something else not needed for survival.This should not be about sides or us/them.We all have to live in this community and make things work.You are right,we need to listen to each other more and try to look at the big picture.
The point though is that salaries are a small part of the budget, and won’t make a huge difference in taxes. You could slash principal salaries, probably end up losing good people and getting second rate leaders, which would hurt our children, but the budget would still be pretty much the same, as would the tax burden. In terms of “bang for the buck,” paying good people to stay is the best money we can spend. STILL, I think you have a point – even if the salaries aren’t what raises taxes, your concerns about tax levels is just as legitimate. I’m not sure what kind of power municipalities have over other taxes, like on entertainment or something that would impact people who earn more and thus can afford to pay more, but the structure of how this is funded seems to put us in lose-lose situation. Some creative thinking along those lines may be just what we need!
One more thing – thanks Chickadee for your thoughtful response. Listening is important, and I think it’s really important we all recognize that there are no bad guys here – people are concerned about education, and concerned about people struggling with taxes. Both problems are real, and we as a community have to grapple with that. Thanks for responding in a thoughtful, positive manner!
Questions – Why does the adult ed program need a increase? Why are we paying insurance for student laptops? Not sure if these have been eliminated or not, but together were over $200,000.
Mr. Erb, I think the statement ” comparing salaries of professionals with advanced degrees to average workers ” does not help communications.
Many of your average workers are professionals, some have degrees and choose to be ” average workers ” for whatever reason.
I personally think your logic is flawed. Dropping the salary will cause the best and brightest to leave and get us second rate employees. Really? So they are here for the money only? Is it all about the money?
What the administration and all the supporters of the tax increase are saying is that if we don’t increase the taxes that the whole school system will fall apart.
If kids learn by example I can’t imagine what they see and hear in the household that has to choose between groceries/heat/fuel/clothes etc. and paying the property taxes.
An argument that I have heard over and over again about various expenses within the budget is that….this particular expense is only a small part of the budget and so won’t make much of a difference in property taxes and so therefore is not worth cutting. Well, things add up. Also, the administrator salaries we are talking about are salary range increases meaning everyone hired hereafter starts at these higher levels. Also, employee benefits such as life insurance, other employer costs such as workers compensation insurance, certain employer paid taxes, etc. are all based on salaries and increase when a salary increases. These aren’t a lot either but everything adds up and those increases will be part of each year’s budget from now on. From the blue sheet that was handed out at the district budget meeting if you add up the numbers in the (+/-) listed for administration (5) the total is $99,000. (All 5 listings are increases). This is a big permanent increase for school administration and does have an impact on taxes. These are not teachers.
I’m just saying – just as you can’t complain about what doctors get paid at the hospital vs. what someone on social security or who works at Walmart gets paid, you can’t compare salaries of people qualified to lead large, complex schools with those of different jobs. In capitalism, markets set the value of labor. If we want to say the government should set the salary values lower to force equalization, that doesn’t work – when governments try to defy markets, bad things happen. Keeping good leaders is probably gets more bang from the buck than any other spending.
In this case, negotiations have already set salaries, though administrators have taken the unprecedented step of agreeing to give back some of a negotiated raise, not something they have to do. There may be more things that need to be cut, but it complaining about how much money people make doesn’t seem to be a good path to take.
These schools are not ” large ” or ” complex” lol ! Only in Farmington would someone believe that.
In the ideal world, salaries should be comparable to other districts. However, this community is very economically stressed. We simply cannot afford to do what is ideal anymore. That is the bottom line here. Those who are in support of the budget as proposed, undoubtedly can afford the continual increases in taxes. However, there is a large segment of the community that can’t and that segment continues to grow. It is hard to ask people living on 1/4 of what these administrators currently earn, to come up with money so that these administrators can get even more money. These are raises in question…not cuts to anyone’s current salary. If the district doesn’t want to forego these increases this year, then they have go find cuts to make up the difference somewhere else in the budget. Other cuts, may have an effect on kids’ education, whereas getting rid of these raises does not.
I’m sure the school district has better info, but here’s what I found on salary.com: range $86,933 – $110,793. That’s from the 25th percentile to the 75th. The median is $98,487 (half of all principals make more than that). Now, this is national data, so it includes lots of larger city schools as well as rural schools nationwide. Even with the raises, I believe our principals are below the 25th percentile which means they are paid lower than most nation wide. I think that’s probably inevitable. The 10th percentile was about $76,000 (meaning 9 of ten make more than that). By the way, if you look up Massachusetts salaries and the 25th percentile jumps up to about $95,000 in most locations. They only have data for two cities in New Hampshire, Nashua and Merrimack, and there the median was over $100,000. Again, this isn’t the best data I’m sure (the best I could find using google), and doesn’t have other Maine principals. But in general, given the requirements of the position, it appears on the face of it that we definitely do not overpay. Here is the site, it has info by location (alas, not anything from Maine), level of education, etc.: http://www1.salary.com/School-Principal-Salaries.html
Mike, while it’s a fair point that principals often have just masters (though I think CBS has the equivalent of a docotorate), I certainly think they deserve more money than I do teaching at UMF. I may have a higher degree, but the demands of running a large school, keeping track of regulations, personnel issues, being up to date on pedagogical issues, dealing with parents, children, etc., I think they earn every cent if they do their jobs well. My experience with children at Mallett and CBS is that they do an amazing job – Tracy Williams won principal of the year for Maine, I recall.
All that said, your point about pay relative to Skowhegan is legitimate, I think. Yet it raises a dilemma. Do we want to pay our people lower, hoping they’ll stay because they like it here – but risking them getting lured away at a place that pays more? Do we hire someone who has trouble getting a job at the market rate, suggesting the person may not be as good? The way the funding system works, wealthier districts get better schools, and their children get better education – all other things being equal. We have to decide what we can do with limited resources to try to make sure our kids aren’t at a disadvantage, especially those from poverty for whom education might be a path to a better life. My sense is keeping good principals to lead the schools is really important – that the money spent there, less than $10,000 a person, is worth it. I think cutting there saves little but could be very risky.
One guy seems pretty determined with all of his rhetoric to sway those who don’t agree with the manner in which things are going in this school district! Heaven help us if any are influenced by his brain-washing! He doesn’t understand the reasons. He can’t identify with the average person’s plight. Pay no attention, as if you are anyway, and let’s forge ahead!
Practicality, encompassed by reality, varies by individual means to pay costs. We are sinking in nearly 20 trillion of the national debt and Congress and the President oblivious. The value of the dollar remains lower than decades ago (how many years now?). The size of goods is shrinking, the cost rising and the ridiculous nature of arguments ranging along a continuum of justification, a no win situation. It comes down to a formula that adjusts taxes by the use and demand for individual use of a service. A blanket “all pay equally” for services that only serve a few or costs applied without seeking new approaches, is outdated. We have reached the place where people need to have the right to select out; not a “majority wins” mentality. The political trick by both parties who say, “The American people want. . . ” and I think, “I do not, so what am I?” A 51 to 49 percent majority is statistically right, but common sense, not at all.
We assume the taxpayer must “rise to the decision-maker recommendation”; but we now find ourselves over our heads, unable to keep paying and perhaps, just maybe a new model is needed. Looking back, it was less and cheaper years and decades ago; today it is off the scale. We are prisoners of a handful of decision makers (at all levels of governance), whose vision is myopic, reality is in hiding (both by chance and choice), many decisions based on selfish self-aggrandizement, and we sit around and worry about paying for prescriptions, food, or other necessities.
So, equality of taxes is in need a new model based on use, the level of use (load on the system) and those who do not draw on a service must have a lower cost. Sorry for the implications you all will grouse about, but that is the reality of 2016 and forward. The old model is dead and time to change. Oh, my comments encompass federal to local, so I am not singling you out if you feel the heat!
I am for education, certainly! However, to assume costs based on general statements of purpose, can one assume that the outcome of twelve years of school is equal for all? Unfortunately, not so, not even close. What is the justification for that continuum or do we just say, “Some do not have the motivation, the home life, the A, B, and C to make it? Not a model we should assume the cost equals outcomes. It does not!
We allow the debate to fall on a few choice and selected topics when the larger discussion goes into the weeds. However, in the environment, the weeds have their place and contribute to the overall balance and cannot be excluded.
I don’t see it as complaining. I think that the taxpayers of the towns have every right to look at the numbers, all of the numbers, and ask questions based on those numbers. Be it a salary, an increase, or an expenditure. And when doing so, they should not bee seen as complaining. That is not a positive thing to say.
Are you talking about me, Buckshot? Well, in comment sections part of the goal is to persuade – no one should have their mind made up either way. All of us should listen to each other: be open to evidence, willing to adjust our views based on what we hear and see. I posted evidence – a link to average principals salaries – and an argument – that the amount of money spent to maintain good leadership isn’t that much, and is worth it. Providing evidence and an argument is not brain washing, it’s public discourse, it’s what democracy is built on! I don’t use insults of others as a means to discuss; indeed, I think everyone deserves respect. It is really important we listen to each other. After all the vote was very close – we need to come together, not see each other as opponents!
Common sense – what’s worse than the total federal debt (100% of GDP) is total debt, which includes private and corporate debt. That’s over 350% of GDP, an unprecedented level. You are right that the models that worked in the past are failing, and we’re facing an economic reality that is dangerous. Our struggles with the school budget are just an aspect of a system in need of real reform. I’m not sure what to do about that, but it is a good explanation of the larger problem we – our entire country – face.
I’ve seen this before, in other areas I have lived. The ” degreed professionals “, the ones making more than everybody else in the area, will start getting charged more for services. We know who you are.
You want your car repaired? You will pay according to what we think you can afford. House painted, plumbing repaired? Is this legal? Probably not, but one has to feed their family.
It’s called a sliding scale. Think of it as you pay full price and us average folk get a ” scholarship ” so to speak.
Scott you might think that I am picking on you, but it is a matter of survival, strictly business.
It happens more than you think and it will continue.
Another thing that no one has addressed yet is the fact that the children see this, the best of this, the best of that, keep raising taxes, spend more and they get spoiled. The children get held up on pedestals ( no not all ) you know, it’s all about the children, I want the best for my child, etc. and it gets out of control.
Just look at other ” progressive ” areas. Children can dress however they want, say whatever they want, they rule.
Children are not being taught what ” NO ” means. As in we can’t afford this, or that. Or NO you shouldn’t be doing that. Wait and see, it’s coming to a town near you and it’s not because we don’t spend enough on the kids.
Yes, times are different, but pick up a paper or read the news around the country, are we progressing? It’s not because we don’t spend enough on the schools.
I am a teacher in this district as well as a long time community member. I have worked long and hard over the years to get to the salary I now have. Being an elementary teacher is NOT an easy job, no matter what anyone tells you. We scrimped and saved and lived paycheck to paycheck for years as we raised our children here. I can tell you that our schools have bare bones resources compared to the increasing number of needs we have each year. More students with serious needs, more families who live in poverty and ALL the issues that go with it. As a taxpayer myself, I sometimes feel angry that an increasingly smaller number of people who work have to support those that can’t, don’t, or won’t. People who rent, who are now a significant portion of our communities, do not have property taxes and contribute nothing, even though their children are entitled to the same education as everyone is. On the other hand, my own parents had to sell their home of 40 years because they could not afford their property taxes when they continued to rise. I do not want my neighbors and townspeople to be asked to pay more if they legitimately can’t. I have two suggestions. First, check out how much money is spent on substitutes in the district. I think it is excessive and unfair in these times that teachers get 15 paid sick days, and that this may sometimes be taken advantage of when it is not completely necessary. Obviously this is a contract issue but is something to keep in mind for the future. Also, I would be willing to take a pay freeze, and would challenge others at the top of the pay scale to be willing to do the same. It is not “we” against “them.” We all have to work and live together and take care of each other. Otherwise, no one wins.
Average worker – I agree with the concern about taxes, and I really would like to find information that goes way back concerning tax rates and school budgets adjusted for inflation and see just how different the current situation really is. I’d really like to see us come together and figure out what is a budget that assures our children a quality education (and I don’t think they get the best of things — we can’t afford what affluent districts do, we have to spend our dollars wisely) and which doesn’t over-burden taxpayers. As I understand it, the budget target would ask for less from most towns (I think 8 or 10?) and the two increases would be tiny. It should be acknowledged that they are trying. Even if tax difficulties are not the fault of the school (more the economic environment), they are real and you’re absolutely right that this can’t help but impact the school system and what we can afford. Assuming a budget can be passed for this year that is “good enough” – no increasing the tax burden, trying to make cuts – I think we need discussions about priorities that start early and don’t turn into a crisis situation every summer where it’s “yes vs. no,” each side trying to get out “their” vote. We’re in this together. It may be too late for this year’s budget, but is it possible to have discussions that take a longer term view on this so in the future more of us are working together and not pitted against each other? I sometimes think people are perceiving two vastly different worlds and sets of data, and talking past each other instead of with each other. Neither side is to blame for that, it’s how the situation evolved.
i have friends from Pennsylvania and all people pay a school tax (workers) so property owners don’t shoulder the whole burden of educating our kids. Might be a solution to be looked into soon.both sides have valid points my 2 cents is we need more jobs in the area to gain more tax base to reduce our taxes, to get there is another problem.
Mr. Erb, the information you seek doesn’t really matter. So much has changed since way back when.
I remember what my mother paid 40 years ago when she bought her house here. I remember what I paid when it became mine and I know what I pay now.
In today’s world there are far more fees and taxes compared to back then. Let’s not forget insurances also.
Bottom line is what remains in one’s pocket. ( or doesn’t )
The path the towns,counties, states and country is going is just not sustainable. The debt and appetite is too large.
At some point the purchase of new laptops, fire alarms, gutters, automatic parking lot lights, sprinkler systems, latest greatest, high tech intercom ( to name a few items ), has to stop. The majority of the tax payers see this as a waste. Especially when they are struggling to put food on the table.
When I went to school I brought my lunch. When my kids went to school they took their lunch.
I watched their high school stop industrial arts to be able to buy new uniforms for the football team. ( not Maine )
What may seem like a little to you has gotten to be the breaking point for many.
Good luck to you sir.
We should cut the Athletics programs. Imagine how much we could save if the school didn’t have to maintain a football field. The kids can do sports in their after school time at home, right? And if they make through school they will be too lazy to leave the state. See, everything makes sense when I say it.
It makes sense if administrators want to keep their large salary increases, then one of them needs to be cut instead of some program that effects the kids. This issue is at the top of all that upsets people. The other is replacing retirees with those of less experience and with larger salaries than those retiring. By the way, Scott, Iliked your last comment better than all your previous ones!
Lindy, I congratulate you in understanding what is known as “The fallacy of composition.” I wish more people did.
Mike, you have only part of the picture in some areas that you seem to have researched. There are professors and adjunct faculty at UMF and other places, who don’t have PhD or EDd in order to teach. Some only Masters. There are at least some adminstrators past and present who have taught college classes either part time or as adjunct faculty and continue to do that. Some teachers, have done that too, part time or on sabbatical. Some admin and teachers and other staff do have doctoral degrees too. And what are decades of experience worth? Not everything fits into the boxes you laid out. Maybe you could do more research by interviewing the super and principals and teachers and other staff about their backgrounds?You might be surprised.
5thgenME
I just heard on the news that Gov. LePage makes $70,000. It doesn’t make sense to me that our school administrators would make more than the state’s governor….
Thank you Buckshot, at least I”m improving :-) I can’t promise to agree or be persuaded all the time, but I really try to listen and understand.
Gov. LePage makes $70,000, with his credentials (and track record) that is all he is worth. He has no masters degree or doctorate and his trips (vacations on our tax money) to places like China to “bring back our jobs” don’t seem to have “brought back” any jobs I can see. I really like Mike’s suggestion based on Pennsylvania; have a special workers tax out of paychecks to support a percentage of the schools so those on fixed income don’t get dinged too hard.