SALEM – The proposed $9.4 million budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year sailed through Monday’s budget validation referendum, winning approval from three quarters of the voters in MSAD 58.
The unofficial, combined results for the towns of Avon, Strong, Kingfield and Phillips was 143 votes in favor of the budget and 48 votes opposed.
Only in Phillips was the vote close, with 18 in favor and 17 opposed. Kingfield passed the budget by a vote of 54 in favor and 10 opposed; Strong by a vote of 54 to 18; and Avon by a vote of 17 to 3.
The $9,378,370 budget includes two relatively minor reductions made at the June 23 meeting totaling $28,000, as well as $180,000 to start a pre-kindergarten program at the Phillips, Strong and Kingfield elementary schools. The budget represents a $291,550 or 3.21 percent increase over the current fiscal year.
The pre-K funds would be used to create 16-student programs at Kingfield, Strong and Phillips, with the Phillips pre-K staff working with the preexisting Head Start program. The programs would offer 4-year-old students classes two days a week, with a third day occasionally utilized for parent/teacher interactions. Pre-K students would ride the district buses, which would be equipped with three-point safety harnesses.
The state provides funding for pre-K programs. After the first year, the MDOE would provide roughly $84,000 in increased subsidy. After the second, the district is anticipating receiving more money than it will take to run the program.
Monday’s vote was the second time that Strong, Avon, Kingfield and Phillips residents have addressed the 2015-16 budget. The vast majority of MSAD 58 voters heeded the advice of the school board and district administrators and rejected the $256,000 protest budget passed on May 28. That rejection set up the second budget meeting on June 23, at which point the $9.4 million budget was passed.
Just two comments:
1. Based on conversations I’ve had with other residents in Philips and the skin-of-your-teeth voting results in our town, the people of Phillips do not want to see the school budget increased. Before someone jumps down my throat and says “the kids!,” let me clarify: education is important, but we cannot allow it’s ever-rising taxpayer burfen to force people to move from their homes or worry about that. Taxes go up every year, but my wage HAS NOT. We need to invest A LOT LESS in throw-away technology (IPads! Smartboards! ect.), because these things (made overseas) have NO MORE than a 4 year WORKABLE lifespan. It’s a vicious cycle: the more we invest in these throw-away items now, the more we’ll be investing in the coming years. I say books are the way to go: teach kids to read from a book and ask for help from their teachers when they don’t understand: this will teach them to make relationships with others that will help guide them in making relationships (in the workplace) in the future. Each school should have a computer lab, which students can use. There’s no need for personal computers funded by the taxpayers: computer labs work just fine, as long as the kids are go-getting enough to want to use them. I DO NOT WANT TO BE PRICED OUT OF MY HOME BECAUSE WE’RE INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY MADE OVERSEAS AND BECAUSE THE DISTRICT CAN’T HELP BUT CONTINUALLY INCREASE THE BUDGET.
2. I attended the budget meetings. During the budget meetings, we were told false information, if this article is correct. In this article, it states “the pre-K funds would be used to create 16-student programs…[that] would offer 4-year-old students classes two days a week, with a third day OCCASIONALLY utilized for parent/teacher interactions.” At the meetings, the word occasionally was not stated: the administrators made it seem like every one of those third days would be used for parent/teacher interactions and teacher workshops.
Legalize marijuana with 40% recreational tax. 10% to fund state regulation of it and 30% to fund all public education in Maine.
In my opinion a lot of kids are not learning what they need to in school….Ask some if they can write – No, it’s called typing …What about thinking – No need the computer will do it…How about just communicating – It’s called texting, tweeting, snap chat, etc… Am I missing something?
Yes, Just Saying, I think you are missing a lot.
Just Saying,
Why don’t you just Home School if you think you know all about education?
Just Saying,
Writing is a form of communication. Writing has evolved. It began with chiseling pictures on walls (hieroglyphs) or painting. Eventually, we moved to the quill and pencil then the ink pen and now the preferred method is using a keyboard. It doesn’t matter the tool as longs as the thoughts and ideas flow. Some people don’t write at all. They communicate through sign language and gestures or by making sounds (talking, grunting). What if someone told you that instead of typing on your keyboard, you had to write your response on a piece of paper and send it to the Bull Dog? Or better yet what if you had to chisel your response onto a piece of granite and send it in. That would be crazy especially if the Bull Dog then would have to copy/translate what you wrote and put it in print. Technology is a tool. Not a teacher. And it makes things a whole lot easier.
Research- Let’s spend three classes sharing encyclopedias, books, etc. when you can research the subject in minutes, find experts, weed out unneeded information, and hone in on the specifics of your subject.
These kids are great researchers. Have you ever seen a Senior Project presentation? They will floor you.
Technology allows more choice for student to process information and show understanding of the content taught by YES- THE TEACHER. It should not matter how you show your understanding as long as you can show that you processed what you learned.
Perhaps, Janie will write a beautiful essay. Maybe, Billy will create an information pamphlet on the subject matter. Molly likes music, so she decides to write a song. Johnny, he is going to make a video. Patty is going to make a model and present it.
Are any of their presentations wrong? Did it require thinking? Yes and a whole lot of creativity. Education is no longer cookie cutter.
Education has evolved.
To resident: I would love to home school my children…. However I work full time and pay taxes so my children can properly be educated!!
To All Others: I am not saying there is a right or wrong way to teach…. My point is – I do not think children are learning all the basics needed. But then again…. That was my OPINION!
Just saying – I think you’re spot on! Since the inception of one-to-one technology, I think our kids have gone backwards – not forwards. The computers do the thinking for them and if they can’t find the answer on the computer then it must not exist! You are exactly correct!
I also find it interesting how if you’re opinion isn’t shared by everyone else commenting then it must be wrong. How sad.
As for Legalizing marijuana, I remember when the lottery was developed. Some was going towards the roads and the rest was going for education. Something went seriously wrong there. That was the big drive or excuse for get the lottery here in Maine. So, don’t hold much stock in legalizing marijuana. JUST SAYING