The RSU 12 Board of Directors approved a $19.7 million budget for FY 2015 at its meeting in Somerville April 10.
The towns in RSU 12 will have opportunity to make adjustments and vote on the budget at a district budget meeting planned for May 20 at the Whitefield Elementary School, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The $19.7 million budget breaks down into the following cost centers: regular instruction, $9,890,289; special education instruction, $3,535,671; career and technical instruction, $216,700; other instruction (includes summer school, co-curricular and athletics), $112,186; staff and student support, $682,811; system administration, $618,938; school administration, $622,377; transportation and buses, $1,003,576; facilities maintenance, $1,176,349; debt services, $1,176,349; other expenses (includes school lunch), $50,000.
The total local share is figured to be $9,881,903, a slight decrease of $64,374. Some towns in RSU 12 will see an increase in its local contribution because of the new cost-sharing formula.
Palermo, Somerville and Windsor will all see increases in local contributions, while Alna, Chelsea, Westport Island, and Whitefield will see a decrease. According to the formula, by FY 2017 all towns in RSU 12 will be paying the same cost per student.
School board training
Connie Brown, executive director of the Maine School Management Association presented a brief training workshop for the school board members.
Brown outlined the responsibilities and obligations of school board members, reminding them they ran for the board as individuals, but once elected they become members of a team.
“You have no individual authority and you can’t make promises as an individual,” Brown said. “You become part of a team.”
Brown cautioned the board members about sending emails to one another, discussing what could be perceived as board business. “Its a big no, no,” she said. Anything going back and forth could be considered public record.
“Be very, very careful what you put out there,” Brown said.
Because most of the board uses personal email addresses for board business, Brown recommended board members have a district account for the board’s business.
Whitefield walking trails
The board voted to support the development of walking trails adjacent to the Whitefield Elementary School.
Because one of the proposed trails runs across school property, Selectman Tony Marple said he wanted the board’s support before moving forward with the development of the trails.
The development of the walking trails will allow students to access to vernal pools, ponds and farm land.
“These are real educational benefits,” Josh McNaughton, principal of Whitefield Elementary School said.
Resignations
The board accepted with regret the resignation of Wiscasset Middle School Principal Linda Bleile, who will retire after 41 years of service at the end of the school year.
The resignation of Wiscasset High School teacher Lucy Moses was also accepted by the board.
