DOVER-FOXCROFT – Few questions were asked of SAD 68 officials Wednesday before about 30 residents approved a $10.2 million spending plan for education.

As required of all school districts and unions, residents must reaffirm their approval of the budget during a referendum vote on June 10. Residents will be asked whether or not they approve the budget passed at the district budget meeting in a yes-or-no vote.

The fact the budget was approved this week without issue pleased SAD 68 interim Superintendent Ann Bridge.

However, she has concerns over the referendum considering the low attendance at the district budget meeting, she said Thursday. Bridge said she hopes residents turn out in force and approve the pared-down spending plan.

Should residents vote the budget down, the school board will have to make deeper cuts in pre-kindergarten through grade-eight programming since the district has a contract with Foxcroft Academy to educate the district’s high school students, according to Bridge.

In addition to the tuition and the Insured Value Factor paid to FA, the district also funds the cost of transporting all district students from the high school to elementary school level, as well as funds a school assessment for those high school students who attend the Tri-County Technical Center and it covers all special education costs.

“If the budget does not receive a majority yes vote from the district voters, the burden of reducing the budget any further will rest entirely on the elementary programs …,” Bridge said. “That is the only thing the district board has complete control over, so that is all it can cut.”

Bridge said the directors cut the budget by nearly $650,000 to decrease the total assessment to the four sending communities by $1,478. She said directors are fully aware of the economic times and recognize that some residents are living below the poverty level.

During the budget process, directors reduced the superintendent’s position to 60 percent, eliminated a kindergarten teacher, a literacy specialist, a curriculum coordination position, a teaching position at Monson Elementary School, reduced clerical staff in the principals’ offices, and dropped plans for program improvement that would put the district closer to the state-mandated achievement of the Learning Results. In addition, the teachers’ association agreed to eliminate one in-service day from its negotiated contract which saved the district $14,000, she noted.

It appears that the budget increased by about $500,000 but that amount represents the first bond payment on the new SeDoMoCha Elementary School. The district must include the amount in the budget but the full amount will be paid by the state, according to Bridge.

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