LIMESTONE — A proposed 15-percent cut of state school subsidies and its effects on the Limestone School System were discussed Wednesday by the Limestone School Committee.

According to Superintendent Bernard Ryder, the 15-percent cut would reflect a reduction of about $292,000 in the school budget in the next six months.

“The town of Limestone cannot afford to reduce the budget by $49,000 a month, effective Jan. 1,” said Ryder. “We have too much a program to absorb a reduction. Written correspondence has been submitted to legislators representing the Limestone School District.”

The committee listened to comments from Homer Ward Jr. on access to information requests. Chairman Jeffrey Harvey informed Ward that his comments would be taken into consideration.

An update on work by the district’s Wellness Team was presented. The committee was informed about health programs, weigh-ins, a smoking cessation program and awards being presented to school staff who work at achieving a healthier lifestyle, according to the superintendent.

After an executive session to discuss a personnel-related matter, the committee authorized the superintendent to approve a teacher transfer from Limestone Elementary School to a position at Damon Elementary School.

Action on substitute secretary salaries was tabled until budget items were settled in early spring.

School Committee meeting dates will be 7 p.m. on the following Wednesdays in January: Jan. 2, study and review of the budget; Jan. 9, regular committee meeting; Jan. 16, tentative meeting with the Limestone Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee to discuss a line-item budget proposal; Jan. 23, scheduled date for adoption of the school budget; and Jan. 30, presentation of the budget by the Budget Committee.

The committee adopted a non-agenda item policy, where only items posted on a written agenda can be discussed at a meeting unless the committee unanimously considered the item an emergency. Any unplanned item would automatically be posted on the next meeting agenda, according to Ryder.

The committee voted to hold mileage reimbursement rates at 24 cents per mile.

A grant application proposal of $1,500 to the State Education Department to assist Limestone in improving student success in the classroom was approved.