RSU 12 will lose over a million dollars in state and federal dollars in fiscal year 2013, Superintendent Greg Potter revealed in a public presentation in Chelsea Feb. 29. The presentation gave a first glimpse at the priorities of the RSU’s 2013 budget.
The majority of the reduction will come from the expiration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the economic stimulus package Congress passed in 2009, and the first required principle payment, some $500,000, on the newly built Chelsea Elementary School. The remaining loss, around $130,000, stems from reduction in the state’s share of the Essential Programs and Services, or EPS.
“How we deal with that becomes our task,” Potter said.
Potter highlighted several key changes the RSU is proposing to make up the financial shortfall. First and foremost would be the elimination of regular education programming at Somerville Elementary and reducing the staff associated with it.
Potter initially proposed the plan at a meeting Feb. 6. Should the plan go through, all kindergarten through fifth grade students in Somerville would be moved to Windsor Elementary School. The RSU’s alternative education program, which is currently based in Windsor, would transition to Somerville.
This transition would go along with a closing of two administrative offices and the Windsor building that currently houses the northern branch of the school’s alternative education program. The two offices, based out of rental properties in Whitefield, will be moved to other locations. The district’s alternative education administration would be moved to Somerville School.
Where the superintendent’s office will end up is currently undetermined at this time. The office had initially been slated to move into the newly built Chelsea Elementary School, however it was determined that the available parking could not suit the needs of the school, the superintendent’s office, and the BACE programs.
Potter said the central office may move to the Somerville School or even to the former superintendent’s building in Wiscasset. Neither possibility, however, is centrally located within the RSU, and Wiscasset’s uncertain future with the RSU makes moving there risky.
Staff cuts, mostly in support areas, are also recommended. In the initial cost-cutting plan, large scale teacher layoffs will be avoided.
“You’re not going to see a whole bunch of teacher cuts in this first proposal,” Potter said.
These belt-tightening measures will go hand in hand with a request for an extra $275,000 in local funds, or a two percent increase from the previous year.
According to Potter’s presentation, the focus of this year’s budget will be on promoting student growth, maintaining existing effective programs, and focusing on the district’s Maine School’s for Excellence work, of which improving teacher and leadership effectiveness is a priority.
“We have been successful at that, and we want to continue doing it,” Potter said.
