The Whitefield School Committee will be active until June 30 and there is a vacancy on the board as Marianne Marple’s term expires this March.
School Union 132 Supt. Frank Boynton said he would inform the town clerk. Nomination papers for other elected positions have been available for weeks, but not for the school committee.
The papers are due back at the town office Wed., Feb. 4 at noon.
Chair Lester Sheaffer noted that if the consolidation law is overturned, the committee would continue beyond June 30.
Marple, who believes the committee can function with four members for three months, said after the meeting she would not be a candidate. However, if a candidate doesn’t step forward, she would consider a three-month appointment.
Town Clerk Gwyn Dixon said Wednesday morning, she had been informed by the Maine Municipal Association that other towns facing the same issue aren’t bothering to fill the vacancy. Dixon added, that nomination papers would specify the term expires June 30, 2009.
At the school committee’s regular meeting, Boynton said the panel still has work to do, even though the new Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit (RSU) to which Whitefield belongs will be up and running soon. A meeting of the 20 new directors is scheduled for next Thurs., Jan. 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Boynton said the Maine Labor Relations Board’s decision is that the RSU board is responsible for support staff agreement negotiations “but the RSU board could subcontract” that duty to the local committee. The local board will need to do a preliminary budget, Boynton said, and it is responsible for operating the school and “overseeing a $3 million budget, going to the end of the year.”
In reporting on the audit, the superintendent said there is an apparent carryover of about $334,561. While it is a hefty amount, certain subtractions need to be made. Those subtractions include the accrued wages that have to be paid to teachers over the summer ($135,973) as well as the anticipated curtailment of $38,000 resulting from education cutbacks at the state level proposed by Gov. Baldacci.
More money than was needed was budgeted for secondary education, leaving $112,419. Similarly, more than $100,000 in Medicaid funds came in, Boynton said.
He cautioned the board to keep in mind that costs associated with the RSU aren’t known. Nonetheless, he said the school department “did a good job” crafting the budget in such a way that it matches closely what actual costs appear to be.
Reporting further on the curtailment, Boynton said a $7000 rebate for unused workers compensation funds can be applied, in addition to the “significant funds” coming in from Medicaid money. “I think we have sufficient funds to cover the curtailment.”
The usual, annual unknown is state funding for education. “We’ve moving slowly because we don’t have an answer yet,” but a major impending expense will be Whitefield’s share of running the superintendent’s office.
Boynton also reported that Naomi Schaible is working five hours, four days a week to help with special education. Asst. Supt. Elaine Nutter who assisted Boynton with that work retired last month.
Principal Ron Cote said water pipes primarily in the gym, over the kitchen and custodial areas froze last Friday in the subzero weather. School was canceled. McCormicks & Sons had restored the heat to about 45 degrees by mid-morning. Insurance money is expected to cover the damage after a $1000 deductible.
Cote also said that following an assembly on anti-bullying and anti-harassment, teachers Junia Norris and Kyle Beeton volunteered to organize a student civil rights team. “It’s a work in progress,” said Cote, “a first for our school.” One activity might be working with teachers “to plan assemblies around the topic,” he commented. Encouraging students to stand up for a classmate who is being harassed is most effective, said committee member Robert Soohey, who attended a seminar on the subject.
It was also reported that Norris received a Target field trip grant so her fifth grade students can attend the Holocaust and Human Rights Center in Augusta.
