The 2011 budget for the Great Salt Bay School will be submitted to district voters Tues., May 18 at 6:30 p.m., in the gym. If approved, it must be validated by an additional vote during the June 8 primary election.
Total budget for the year is set at $4.7 million, which is up $10,000 from this year. The state will provide about $198,000 to the figure, he said.
Good news is that local taxpayers will see a $20,000 decrease in local funding.
Local school assessment for Bremen residents is down $56,000; for Damariscotta, it is up $20,000 while Newcastle costs increased by $15,000. Overall decrease is .5 percent, he said.
Unlike some schools, GSB is not losing teaching positions due to budget cuts. Instead, the school is moving a part time math teacher to a full-time plus, a special education position will also be moved from part time to full-time, he said.
Central Lincoln County School System Supt. Bob Bouchard said the budget calls for services to an anticipated 387 students. Average class size is budgeted at about 17 per class.
This year, the school is moving the gifted and talented programs from special education to regular instruction in a change required by the state.
The budget line for regular instruction is up 3.3 percent, $2.1 million to $2.2 million.
Although the district is in the middle of contract negotiations with teachers, and final salary numbers are not firm, Bouchard said he has included a 4 percent teacher salary raise in his budget. Currently a new teacher with a bachelor’s degree is paid $36,622 plus full health benefits, he said.
Last year, voters questioned the school board’s plan to replace a retiring librarian with an Ed Tech. However, Bouchard said they were able to hire a fully qualified experienced librarian at the salary of an education technician.
Also last year, voters balked at board attempts to eliminate programs that partnered with Kieve and Chewonki camps for special outside instruction. This year, the programs are listed in the regular budget, he said. There are no plans to eliminate these programs, he said.
Overall the district share of the central office administrative expenses is down by 9 percent or $13,790.
The budget anticipates spending 9000 gallons of school bus fuel at $3.15 a gallon. Heating fuel is being budgeted at $2.75 per gallon for 20,000 gallons.
