GREENVILLE – It was no small feat but Greenville school officials have proposed a 2007-08 budget that essentially requires the same amount from taxation for education as this year.
The $3,415,851 total budget came as a result of several changes.
A restructuring of administrative positions, more collaboration with surrounding schools and a carrying forward of about $522,000 from the previous budget helped offset the increasing costs of fuel, supplies, transportation, utilities and salaries, and a loss of nearly $200,000 in state subsidy, according to Superintendent Heather Perry.
“We focused on administration as much as possible and we purposely limited any negative impacts on student programs,” Perry said Friday.
While the schools scraped by this year, Perry said, she is emphasizing to the community that won’t be the case next year. Because of a significant jump in the town valuation, Greenville schools are now considered a minimum receiver. As such, the schools will continue to receive less in subsidy, she said.
Greenville received no “isolation grant” for 2007-08 as it has in previous years, and it is not expected to receive any transition funds.
After much discussion with state officials, however, Greenville did receive transition funding of $107,000, according to Perry. Last year, the schools received $91,000 in transition funds. Transition funds are a cushion for schools who are hurt by changes made in the funding formula.
Planners shifted the special education director’s position from kindergarten-through-12th grade Principal Becky Brown to Perry. As such, Brown allowed her salary to be reduced by 7 percent.
Directors eliminated a part-time accounts payable clerk; restructured secretarial positions; eliminated a part-time cook’s position; combined the Jobs for Maine Graduates instructor’s position with the industrial arts position; and made a change in the foreign language position.
The school will now share a foreign language teacher with SAD 12 in Jackman and SAD 13 in Bingham via a telecommunication networking system. The latter change resulted in $20,000 savings, according to Perry.
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