SAD 4 directors to keep ITV center open

GUILFORD – Rather than impose a hardship on some residents, SAD 4 directors ditched a measure last week that would have saved the district about $6,000.

Since only 15 people were served last year by ITV, or Interactive Television, and only one had signed up for a summer course, Superintendent Paul Stearns had recommended eliminating the local center.

Stearns said the ITV is operated from a portable classroom and his intent was to close that building. His recommendation was based on the fact that more residents can have access to similar course offerings on the Internet at home if they have high-speed broadband service. He also said many residents prefer to attend classes at the Penquis Higher Learning Center in Dover-Foxcroft.

“It was one of those items that I do think it was prudent to bring forward,” Stearns said this week. With a tight budget and escalating food and fuel costs, Stearns said, he looks for every opportunity to save dollars.

Directors, however, recognized that the same tough economic times driving up food and fuel costs also were affecting district residents, according to Stearns. He said they felt higher gasoline costs might make the difference for someone wanting to drive the extra miles to take the class in Dover-Foxcroft.

In the end, directors voted 13-0 to keep the ITV classroom open.

One of three cost-saving measures the directors did support last week was consolidation of food services for the middle and high schools. The main meals and sandwiches now will be prepared in the middle school kitchen that was designed to serve as a satellite kitchen, according to Stearns.

“We’re obviously looking to economize and save money by not filling a position because the price of food has, as everybody knows, grown astronomically and we’re looking to cut back in any way we can, but at the same time we don’t want to cut back on the quality of food,” Stearns said.

“Everything should look just the same to the kids except we’re also going to renew an effort to provide better food in a more pleasing manner,” Stearns said. A survey of high school students was conducted to determine what foods they would like to see on the menu, he said.

Stearns said the district was not looking to make money on food service but to break even while providing the best quality meals.

The Guilford Primary and McKusick schools each have their own cooks and that local service will continue.

Another savings directors supported was a change in the benefits of Virginia Rebar, the middle school principal. Directors agreed to allow Rebar to officially retire on June 30 but seconds later voted to offer her a contract effective early next month with an expiration date of June 30, 2011. By taking this action, the district no longer will have to pay Rebar retirement benefits.

Directors also established a student position for up to 200 hours a year at $8 an hour to serve as a computer technician. The student will primarily prepare laptops for the next school year, according to Stearns.

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