SAD 48 directors unhappy with proposed cuts

NEWPORT — Several weeks ago, faced with a shortfall of nearly $400,000 in state funding and another $400,000 in increased expenditures, the SAD 48 Budget Committee directed its superintendent to trim $800,000 so the result would be a local tax increase of zero.

But not all members were happy when they saw the list of those proposed cuts Tuesday night.

The hardest hit account was gifted and talented education, which was basically eliminated — a move that drew criticism from some members. “We are spending over $1 million for disadvantaged students to develop their limited potential. Yet we are cutting the gifted program,” said Newport Director Stephen Packard. Packard favored a more consistent approach, cutting all accounts equitably. “There should be some contributions from other accounts to keep this one.”

“Not every account can take the same hit,” said Superintendent of Schools Raymond Freve.

Dot Humphrey, Hartland director, said she was more concerned that $13,640 had been taken from teacher training. “I feel worse about this. With the proper training, the teachers can deal with the gifted and talented in the classroom. To do away with both (in-service and the gifted program) will really hurt our top kids.”

Directors waffled back and forth, trying to decide whether to remain at their zero-increase goal or allow for a small increase. “With an $800,000 cut,” said Freve, “we’re impacting kids.”

“If we are not going to be able to live with a zero increase,” said Hartland Director Robin Duplisea, “we need to determine just how much of an increase we can live with.” One director suggested a 10 percent increase, another said 5 percent.

When asked what Freve would reinstate into the budget if he were given back $400,000, he didn’t hesitate. “I can’t think of an account I would revisit other than teachers’ salaries. All these years we have been impacting classrooms. I would only go to one account, to people. We held three public hearings and that is what the citizens were saying: `Don’t touch our teachers.”‘

Freve outlined the seven elementary, one special education, one music and two secondary positions that will be eliminated this year. “All of these positions are done through attrition,” he said. “By moving people around, we have not broken our (student-teacher) ratio.”

Because of smaller class sizes, one grade-one teacher will be eliminated and a sixth-grade position added at Hartland Consolidated. Eastland staffing levels will remain the same. Newport Elementary will lose one grade-one teacher. St. Albans Elementary will loose a grade-two and a grade-five teacher, and their proposed full-time prinicipal’s position was included on the $800,000 hit list. Palmyra Consolidated School will add a grade-six teacher and eliminate a grade-three and grade-five teacher.

Each of the three district junior high schools will lose one teacher. Also set for elimination is one districtwide music teacher and a special education instructor.

If the board compromised, said Freve, and only increased the local share by $400,000, it would mean an approximate increase in total district local funding of 16 percent.