Great Salt Bay School Budget Draft Outlines $229,536 Increase

The proposed 2011-2012 Great Salt Bay Community School budget is nearly five percent – almost a quarter of a million dollars – higher than the preceding year’s budget.

The revenue portion of the budget includes six figure increases in appropriations from Damariscotta ($106,324, 6.1 percent increase) and Newcastle ($164,095, 10.4 percent).

In contrast, Bremen would pay $36,654 or 5.8 percent less into the school’s budget. The district bases town appropriations on enrollment.

Central Lincoln County School System (AOS #93) business manager Deborah Giles stressed that the local appropriations are “preliminary numbers” subject to change.

“We’re expecting it to change,” Giles said. “It’s really a guess right now.”

A $47,500 increase in outside tuition and a $64,466 influx from the federal jobs bill are offset by a $34,536 decrease in state subsidy and a $81,659 decrease in the fund beginning balance, or surplus.

Central Lincoln County School System (AOS #93) Supt. Robert “Bob” Bouchard said he “can’t explain” the drop in the state subsidy.

Eight of the proposed budget’s 10 sections are higher.

In regular instruction, increases include $44,557 in teacher salaries and health insurance and $24,791 for ed tech salaries and health insurance. The increases are partially offset by an $11,559 decrease in alternative education.

Teachers receive pay increases as they accumulate years of service, Giles said.

Increases in special education instruction include $10,509 in teacher salaries and health insurance and $81,067 in ed tech salaries and health insurance.

The school plans to hire three additional special education ed techs next year in order to meet a growing demand for services, GSB principal Jeff Boston said.

Increases in energy costs – heating fuel, bus fuel and electricity – drive up the transportation and buses and facilities maintenance budgets by $30,611.

The total hike in the budget is $229,536 or 4.9 percent.

Bus bidsWith a unanimous, 7-0 vote, the School Committee accepted a bid of $1850 from Vassalboro-based Freddie’s Service Center for an underperforming bus at its March 9 meeting.

Superintendent searchThe hunt for Bouchard’s replacement continued March 10 with the first meeting of the superintendent search committee since the March 4 application deadline.

Carole Brinkler, the Chair of the Great Salt Bay School Committee, is optimistic about a “really promising” field of “viable” candidates, she said March 9. Bouchard has announced his retirement, effective June 30.

Bouchard and Brinkler declined to identify the applicants for the position.