FARMINGTON – The Regional School Unit 9 board approved a proposed $38.19 million budget Thursday evening, removing a part-time assistant superintendent position that had provoked concern from some community members and staff over the past few weeks. The meeting was conducted via Zoom teleconferencing Thursday evening.
Superintendent Tina Meserve said that while she still believed the position was important to the district and the education of its students, she was concerned that it may have created an issue at the budget vote. She cited the feedback of some staff and community leaders on the part-time position, which would have had a $40,000 impact on the budget. Board members that addressed that issue agreed, in some cases reluctantly, with many saying they believed the position was important for the district but that the uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic made it less tenable. Board directors also pushed back against claims that the position had been added to the budget due to a decision made by administrators, noting that it had been developed through budget committee deliberations.
The $38,186,924 budget would represent a roughly $1.06 million increase over the current fiscal year, or 2.86 percent. Despite the proposed increase in expenditures, the ten towns that make up RSU 9 would see a cumulative decrease in their local assessments to support the district, of $228,992 or 1.69 percent. This is due to increases in the district’s state subsidy allotment, tied to student enrollment, increased funding for cost centers such as system administration and Foster Career and Technical Education Center and additional money relating to the district joining a regional service center last year.
If passed as proposed, the budget would lead to decreases in local assessments in seven towns and increases in the other three. Specifically, with the Adult Education budget calculated in, Chesterville would see a decrease in its local assessment to fund the school district of $47,630 or 4.48 percent; Farmington would see a decrease of $171,886 or 3.57 percent; Industry would see an increase of $4,096 or 0.44 percent; New Sharon would see a decrease of $780 or 0.07 percent; New Vineyard would see an increase of $9,898 or 1.29 percent; Starks would see an increase of $21,596 or 4.49 percent; Temple would see an decrease of $5,123 or 1.19 percent; Vienna would see a decrease of $378 or .05 percent; Weld would see a decrease of $26,222 or 5.28 percent; and Wilton would see a decrease of $12,562 or .46 percent.
Meserve said that she believed the district was fiscally conservative, noting that according to the Maine Department of Education, RSU 9 was 226th out of 258 school districts in terms of per pupil expenditure.
The vote to approve the K-12 budget at $38.1 million passed with 12 directors in favor and Directors Irving Faunce of Wilton, Dennis O’Neil of Farmington and Craig Stickney of Chesterville opposed. Director Jesse Sillanpaa of Industry was not present.
In other business, the board approved the hiring of Jeffrey Brazee to fill the district’s open Technology Director position. Brazee has 19 years of related experience, Meserve said, including as a teacher, a technology instructor and working in a managerial position in technology fields. Brazee was the unanimous choice of a roughly 10-member hiring committee, Meserve said.
Some board members reluctantly agree to common sense. Maybe some hope?
This budget is still out of control !! Cutting one request for a measly $40k is ridiculous. What about the number discrepancy that Mike pointed out. This district needs a good cleansing!!! Too much admin across the board.
I feel compelled to anonymously scream into the void that too much of my money is being spent to educate children. I want something done! There. That was effective.
It’s not that we spend too much on education it’s how it is spent. People need to wake up and see that when 80% (Meserve’s number) goes to staff something is wrong. We have a junk math curriculum hence needing an interventionist. It’s not that the kids needing help can’t do the math it’s the way the math is taught. (Not teachers fault) When my kids ask me for help with math they don’t even know how to write the equation properly because the curriculum was cheap and that is how it is taught. So when you do an equation properly with the correct answer you get it wrong be because you didn’t waste two or three pages of paper grouping numbers and overloading a young mind with babble. If we spent more money on our curriculum and less on administration we would see an increase in the state testing that they are being taught to pass so our district can look good on paper. I miss the old superintendent that refused his raises so we could put that money where it was actually needed.
Awww I’m so glad that you have the ability to voice your ideas under freedom of speech. Now I know WHO you are. I was a little confused when you wanted me to have my free speech taking away by the Bulldog. I thank the Bulldog to let free speech not be dictated by one person.
I do agree with you there is a lot of fat in the budget.m
Why can’t the surplus money left over from not using the fuel to heat buildings, the diesel and propane to run busses, and the electricity to serve the grounds and buildings, be applied to next years budget. AND why isn’t this figure made available to the public. Even school board members can’t get the figure.There has to be a sizable sum left in those accounts and probably others as a result of school closure. Got to be a balance figure in that computer somewhere. A $40,000 reduction to the budget for a position not included is not a REDUCTION. I always figured extras were put in and when taken out it looked good and gained some sympathy and yes votes. Maybe not, but it usually happens. The validation vote on the budget, IF it is approved, will prove interesting this year.
Good point Bob M.! Regular school has been closed since March 16th. That’s 3 months of savings on energy and busing, at the very least. Nothing listed on the revenue page regarding this. How can school officials think that this substantial amount of money does not have to be tallied up and applied as revenue to the next year’s budget? And, isn’t the superintendent obligated to provide information to the school board when they request it? How can the board operate on partial information?
If you listened or watched the last school board meeting you would know that those board members that were reluctantly agreed to the budget was only for the fact that the assistant superintendent was left out. I have heard them talk about a pandemic, but as Mr. Stickney pointed out none of the board members were laid off or loss their job due to this virus. Bottom line is business as usual. There is no concern for those who have lost their jobs, been laid off, and have no idea what is to come next. At the budget forum the article on building maintenance was up I believe 7%. RSU 9 is supposed to be for the education of our students. Why then are tables, chairs, doors, etc. more important than the student innovation center that apparently serves 100’s of students at the high school and is open to every student there. Hiring for new positions may not be appropriate at this time, concerning the interventionist, however it makes more sense than the PALS program that we have invested one million dollars over the last two years, and as was sold to us taxpayers, we would be kept informed as to its success. Apparently, it’s a failed program, but RSU 9’s unwritten policy of entitlement means you will pay for them forever, or until they leave on their own. When it comes time to vote on this budget do as you wish, but any increase at this time will further the anxiety and stress on the people who don’t need anymore.
Some good questions here. Regarding the surplus, the reason we don’t apply it to next year’s budget is we go through an audit in the middle of the school year to ensure all of the numbers are correct. After that audit is complete we can potentially use the funds for the following school year. I say potentially because if the state temporarily does not follow through on their promised revenue we will have those funds to make up that difference. Thankfully the administration worked hard to limit expenses by implementing a freeze as soon as we realized the difficulties we were facing. That act, as well as some other areas of financial discipline, have put us in a position where we can weather the potential storms without significantly impacting our children or our plans for the future. We’re in a much better place than some other school districts on that front. Regarding the specific number, we won’t know that until the end of the fiscal year. There are still some variable costs, but we do have reasonable estimates. The last number I heard was between $2mm – $2.5mm.
Additionally, all of the above information (and most of the other questions I’ve heard) has been discussed at length in the public board meetings. All of those meetings are available on the RSU 9 website if you would like to hear the discussion and detail surrounding them.
Then if we have $2-$2.5 million left over why in hell are we being asked for $1.06 million more? Why not wait until January as the Gov.has said districts can do? I looks like the balance in the checkbook ought to get us through the school year just fine.
IT looks like…. I meant to say, please excuse and thanks for all comments attempting explanations.
See if I have this correct, RSU9 is asking for a 1.3 million increase in the budget and “according to Mr. Doyle ” there is the potential of 2 to 2.5 million that may or may not be available.If the budget should pass the district could end up with close to 3.8 million increase to run with.That just might do it….
Exactly what I thought. The school doesn’t need new budget until January, according to Gov. Mills, unless I’m mistaken.So why not wait and see what will be left over instead of everyone getting all stirred up? ANNNNNNND all those signs being posted saying VOTE NO and other negative things! And the board meeting all summer to make cuts when there shouldn’t be any to start with! ANNND everyone will be happy again, maybe?
Right MIKE? Start school operating on this year’s budget figure and large holdover and see how it works.
I was going to bite my tongue Ryan but I’ve changed my mind. First off I didn’t ask the bulldog to take away your first amendment right. Go to “about us” at the top of the page. See their guidelines for comments. You rambled and jumped around in your comment. Next you still have no idea WHO I am so keep wondering how pal.
Bob Millay brings up a good point. Does this budget HAVE to be done now or do we have until January ? If we have until then I say we get solid numbers from the state and some solid numbers from the district for teacher negotiations before we start going forward with a bunch of “fluff” in this budget.
PL2019 Chapter617 Part E SectionE1 School Budget TITLE 37B SEC. 742 …due to COVID 19 school board may delay budget…. from beforeJULY1 to a date… after JULY1 ….to January 15, 2021 when it is repealed. So no hurry, but the dates are set already so we’ll see what happens. Left over money goes in undesignated account, I believe, and is to be used for “educational programs.” in the upcoming school year.
Bob thanks for the info on the time line. I think if people vote this first proposal down we can get concrete numbers on payroll and insurance costs. Unfortunately this is being rammed through so the fluff can magically disappear.
Bob Millay ans Awww both make very valid points.