ARUNDEL — Eliminating the equivalent of nearly 30 full-time positions, cutting the elementary-level Spanish program and eliminating substance abuse counseling are among the cost-saving measures under consideration by Regional School Unit 21 as they prepare next year’s school budget.
On Monday and Tuesday evening, RSU 21 Finance Committee members heard from school administrators on their suggested cuts, in the wake of an anticipated $1.9 million reduction in state aid for next year.
“The administrators are proposing these reductions,” said Superintendent Andrew Dolloff, but he urged the committee not to think of the proposals as “recommendations,” but rather, as compromises that would have the least impact on education.
Each school was asked to decrease every cost center by 8.5 percent, said Dolloff. Considering increases in fixed costs and a desire to keep local taxes from skyrocketing, the school board directed the district to decrease its budget by $2.6 million for 2011.
“This is a fundamentally different budget process than we’ve gone through before,” said John Sharood, chairman of the finance committee, citing the significant reductions. The committee did not comment on the proposals Monday, but will be discussing the budget with the full board next week.
KHS
At Kennebunk High School, Principal Peter Dawson said that declining enrollment in grades nine and 12 will help avoid some cuts, but a total of seven positions are proposed for elimination. Nearly four of those cuts will be in teaching positions, he said, to be determined. As well, the school is proposing a reduction in administration staff for the second year in a row.
Capping courses and offering fewer sessions of courses could lower costs. Class size would be increased minimally, but figures cannot be determined until students choose courses, he told the committee.
A savings of $50,000 will be had by ending the contract with Day One substance abuse counseling services. The high school and Middle School of the Kennebunks currently share the contract expense, but the services are rarely used at MSK, according to administrators.
At the high school, however, cutting Day One services will have a large impact, said Dawson. The contract currently allows counseling three days per week and students are often referred to counselors.
“It’s hard to measure the actual success rate and impact, but we know we use them all the time,” said Dawson.
If the contract is ended, school counselors would have to take on students with substance abuse issues and their “expertise is not necessarily in that field,” he said.
Another point of contention is the proposed elimination of the high school drama teacher position. Dawson noted that although most high schools now offer drama as an elective, it was not the norm to offer it during the school day only six to seven years ago. Dawson said the drama program would not be cut, and a coach for the after-school drama program would be paid by stipend.
MSK
The drama teacher and literacy specialist at the Middle School of the Kennebunks are proposed to be cut, along with partial staff reductions in the English Language Learners and art programs.
Co-curricular stipends are to be cut, impacting the newspaper, yearbook and Civil Rights student groups. As well, no field trips will be budgeted.
“This has been a challenging process. One I really struggled with is our literacy specialist,” said Principal Jeff Rodman. “I’ve been a principal for 15 years and I’ve had to make cuts and reductions in force but nothing to this level. The impact of what we’re dealing with is new.”
Elementary
A total of seven positions are slated to be cut at the elementary level, across all four of the district’s schools. Cuts include a music teacher, one classroom teacher, one secretary and a part time educational technician in the library. As well, two Spanish teachers would be cut, eliminating the Spanish program, and the nurse at Mildred L. Day would be reduced to part time. Staff reductions would also be realized in the library, art and physical education programs.
Other
In other cuts, special education would see 5.4 positions lost; four would be cut from technology; a part-time gifted and talented teacher would be cut; and 2.3 positions will be gone from administration/business.
In athletics, interscholastic sports for grades seven and nine are proposed to be cut, with an expansion of intramural offerings for grades six and seven instead.
Paving of the bus parking lot and scheduled bus purchases will be put off. Repairs to the high school bathrooms, heating system and replacement of carpeting will be delayed; and three custodian positions are to be cut districtwide, one of which is a retirement.
As well, late buses that serve students who participate in after-school activities will be eliminated.
The Finance Committee will present the budget reduction proposals to the full school board on Monday, at which time public input will be taken. Sharood said that tax impact calculations for each town will be presented soon as well.
The public can also address the board on Monday, March 15, when the first reading of the budget will be held. Adoption of the budget is slated for April 5.
— City Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 322 or kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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