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MSAD 58 budget process continues

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Mt. Abram Regional High School. (Photo by Steve Mitman)
Mt. Abram High School. (Photo by Steve Mitman)

SALEM – School board directors discussed four of the 2013-14 budget cost centers Tuesday evening, with an eye toward setting the budget Thursday.

Directors voted to eliminate a study hall monitor position at Mt. Abram High School, set the school supply level and to keep a social worker position in the budget. The preliminary draft version of the budget, prior to Tuesday’s changes, was at roughly $9.6 million. Decisions that need to be made Thursday include paving, maintenance and repair line items, as well as a proposal to place a principal in every school.

In the Regular Instruction cost center, directors discussed the elimination of a study hall monitor position in the wider context of teacher schedules and class loads at the high school. The position in question became empty when the employee moved away, then was held open to help cover the state’s latest school subsidy curtailment. Teachers, as well as Principal Marco Aliberti, have been covering the shift around their professional development time.

Directors debated whether eliminating the position might hamper teacher’s abilities to adapt to changes in technology, curriculum and education, but eventually opted to eliminate the position on a motion by Director Ann Schwink of Strong. She noted that there were major aspects of the budget that could not be controlled by the board, such as the staff retirement cost shift, the Affordable Care Act mandate and the sequester’s impact on special education funding, but the board could decide whether or not to fund that position.

“There are some things we can’t control, but we can control this,” Schwink said, adding she couldn’t see putting the $20,000 salary plus benefits back into the budget.

Also under Regular Instruction, directors stressed that there were no plans to eliminate an elementary music program, previously staffed by a Mt. Blue Regional School District teacher who was shared with MSAD 58. That position was cut back to a three-fifths position in MBRSD after MSAD 58 informed the district they were unable to commit to continuing the arrangement, some weeks ago. At this point, directors intend to maintain that program and seek applications for teachers. Some present expressed a hope that the same instructor would be employed in MSAD 58.

Directors set the instructional supply line budget at 80 percent of the recommended amount, generated through a formula. That’s a savings of approximately $20,000 out of the $9.6 million budget, but an increase from the current level of 50 percent funding. Over the past two years, that level of funding has resulted in shortages, some of which is covered by teachers paying out of their own pocket for supplies.

Directors also approved the addition of a social worker position in the budget, with that $58,000 line item already included in the $9.6 million budget. Superintendent Brenda Stevens noted that the district had kids that were “struggling” and that administrators were unable to give specific examples due to privacy laws. Administrators and teachers in all MSAD 58 buildings have strongly supported the idea, some directors said.

“They’re the ones that know what’s going on in our schools,” Ellen James of Avon said. “I think we should listen to them.”

The process continues Thursday, with Stevens noting that the board would need to finalize a budget in order to meet the time table. That meeting will be held at Kingfield Elementary School at 7 p.m., following the conclusion of the school’s play.

Stevens said that she had been in contact with Carrabassett Valley representatives and that the negotiation of the tuition agreement would continue.

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9 Comments

  1. This is concerning. These teachers are already stretched thin. I hope that parents, the community and teachers who live in district show up and demand that this position be put back in the budget.

    This position was not just a warm body in the room. Mrs. Ricker (whom moved out of state) tutored students in various subjects and was always available after school, too.

  2. The high school teachers are not stretched as thin as our elementary teachers, and they are specialist, teaching in usually one subject only unlike the elementary teachers that teach all subjects.. the last time I looked at a high school schedule they had a planning period a day… the elementary teachers were lucky to get two a week. Sitting and helping their students while doing their own planning was what was done when I was there…. time for the circle to come back… I would rather see that study hall monitor position not funded and have some mental health/counseling for the kids and work on things like bullying and similar things that are affecting our kids everyday.

  3. First, thanks Mom for the comment. It warmed my heart. Secondly, the Study Hall position was a great position. I had contact with most of the student body. It is sad that no one will fill the position. Many students got to know the me and I became an informal counselor. I was available for tutoring and I advocated for students by being the go-between for students and staff. I am not sure where the money alotted for that position and benefits went. I never saw 20,000.00 or benefits. I was never paid for Holidays or days off. But that wasn’t why I was there, nor is that why any of the teachers are there. I think what is discouraging is how much the students at MTA will continue to lose. Instead of paying one person 10.92 an hour, now teachers that make more than that are being asked to give up a planning period. The planning period is used for more than a teacher to brush up on what they are going to teach. They are creating curriculum for a wide spectrum of students. MTA students have lost out on electives and both higher and lower level specialty classes because the teachers that are left don’t have time. The staff at MTA has been stretched thin and because of that students are suffering. Having said that, I don’t put blame on the Board. They are doing the best they can with the resources they have. Thank you for letting me have a moment to speak. Thanks to the Staff at MTA. I miss you all!!

  4. Thank you, Study Hall Teacher, for your view….Your comments were interesting….The one statement that stood out (to me) was “They are doing the best they can with the resources they have”….That pretty much sums it up for all of us working parents and taxpayers in the SAD 58 area…Most of us cannot have everything that we want in our homes OR our schools…It is, unfortunately, partly due to the economy and due to the area in which we live. We make the choice to live here and earn less…to give up the higher paying jobs and the rat race that accompanies them, to live in this no frills area and live within our budgets….On that same line, our schools must live within their budgets which are paid by our meager wages…We elect our school directors to make the best choices that taxpayers can afford..We cannot have it all…Cuts/adjustments must be made to insure the budget stops climbing further.

  5. **My apologies, the District Budget Meeting date is tentative and will not be set until tonight’s board meeting if we are successful in completing the budget.

  6. What concerns me is the study hall monitor did not make $20,000 and they still tried to put that amount in the budget. Where did that money go these past years? Things seem to be hidden in different lines…

  7. Just because it lists 20,000 doesn’t mean it all goes to the person earning the paycheck.. state taxes, federal taxes, social security,liability insurance etc. that isn’t health insurance or benefits that the worker even see’s all has to be paid.. so that probably lists a gross pay and not a net pay… those hidden costs are what kills a lot of these things and makes people wonder why the figures are what they are, feel free to call the superintendents office and ask or go to a meeting and ask, that’s what your elected officials are there to explain.. its not just about signing over the check to someone who cares and works.So a lot of times when you see the figures that seem high and you know that person doesn’t see that amount I’m pretty sure that has a lot to do with it in the payroll area.
    I didn’t mean to say that either of the last study hall monitors didn’t care but its time to move it to other areas… and I’m sure that the teachers aren’t going to lose all the planning periods they have for a week… and this way they may have a chance to have more hands on time to help the students.. I think its good.. and the kids that don’t have that teacher in their classes may find they want to after making contact there..

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