Dresden residents spoke about their displeasure with the reduction of two staff positions from RSU 2’s proposed 2023-2024 budget during a public hearing at Dresden Elementary School on Wednesday, May 17.
The proposed RSU 2 budget totals $28,014,143.87, a decrease of $6,239,132.58 or 18.21% from last year’s budget.
In an introduction to the budget posted on the RSU 2 website, Superintendent Richard A. Amero Jr. said the budget process was challenging in many ways, including the impending withdrawal of Richmond from RSU 2, the ending of grant-funded positions, and increased academic, social, and emotional needs of students post-COVID. Inflation also played a part, according to Amero.
Of the total budget, Dresden residents are responsible for $2,158,437.15, an increase of $148,679.15 or 7.4%.
Farmingdale’s portion is $3,378,473.82, an increase of $173,626, or 5.42%. Hallowell’s portion totals $3,705,503.05, an increase of $186,548 or 5.30%. Monmouth’s portion is $6,140,828.09, an increase of $308,103 or 5.28%.
The withdrawal of Richmond from the district will impact Dresden’s portion of the budget, Amero said during the May 17 public hearing. Richmond residents approved the withdrawal in November.
The two towns share a library technician and physical education teacher as well as food resources, said Amero. Richmond has been responsible for preparing a significant portion of the meals transported to Dresden Elementary School.
RSU 2 is retrofitting the Dresden Elementary School kitchen to better prepare meals, said Amero.
RSU 2 is currently accepting applicants for both a part-time library technician and physical education teacher positions, according to the RSU 2 website.
Elsewhere in the hearing, a major point of conversation was the reduction of two staff positions within Dresden Elementary School. Across the district, there was a reduction of 11 grant-funded positions, Amero said in an interview.
A teaching position, unsupported by grants, at Dresden Elementary School was cut. This omitting came from the regular instruction line of the proposed budget. The budget granted regular instruction $9,631,741.80, a decrease of $3,030,787.81 or 23.93%.
“The loss of a teacher means asking more of staff and giving less attention to students,” said Erica Atkinson, who has been teaching at Dresden Elementary School for 22 years.
In addition, a counselor position at Dresden Elementary School was reduced to part time. This slash came from the student and staff support budget, which totals $2,530,808.01, a decrease of $531,249.29 or 17.34%.
In response to the question about how Dresden will handle serious behavior issues with the reduction of the counselor position to part time, Amero and Special Education Director Deb Murphy said when the counselor is not present, there would be a social worker in the building.
Dresden resident Paul Tunkle said there is a need for more mental health resources for students, especially since the pandemic.
Atkinson expressed concern about how teachers could respond to a student needing help from a counselor if one was not in the building.
“We had a part-time counselor in the past and it was not successful,” she said.
A nurse will be added at Dresden Elementary School, Amero said.
The district will purchase new security cameras, the funds for which are included in the $3,456,426.06 operations and maintenance budget, a decrease of $871795.41 or 20.14%.
The cameras working in the district have an expiration date on the content, which can be problematic, as first responders need access of the footage in real time, said Amero.
Amero said the district cannot wait for a grant, as student safety is imperative. More so, he said, it would be difficult to receive a grant for the security cameras if the school already completed the purchase.
In other conversations at the meeting, Amero said the enrollment trend is down.
While RSU 2 is predicted to gain 15 students, the actual number will depend on what pre-K and kindergarten enrollment is, Amero said. However, Dresden has been trending lower enrollment.
“The population got smaller … RSU 2 got creative and did a good job,” said RSU 2 Board of Directors Chair Donna Seppy. “RSU 2 shared expenses. We maintained culture commands of each town. We can improve and integrate areas.”
The RSU 2 regional budget meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 25 at Hall-Dale High School, at 111 Maple St. in Farmingdale. Residents of the four towns that make up RSU 2 will vote on each of the expense articles at this meeting.
The budget validation vote will follow Tuesday, June 13.
The next RSU 2 Board of Directors meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 1 at Hall-Dale High School.
