About 25 members of the public attended the SAD 6 budget hearing held at Bonny Eagle Middle School on Monday evening.
Superintendent Suzanne Lukas began the hearing by breaking down the state’s share under the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act (EPSFA). When Lukas finished her presentation, the public was invited to speak or to ask questions.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the content and ramifications of Article Four, which will be voted on once again at the special referendum election on Tuesday, July 26.
Although the other articles pertaining to the school budget were passed in June’s election, Article Four, which requested the appropriation of nearly $4 million in additional local funds, was defeated by 51 votes.
The failure of Article Four resulted in the Board of Directors’ vote on June 27 to cut the fiscal year 2005-2006 school budget by a dollar. According to School Board Chairman Oleg Svetlichny, they decided on the minimal cut because they believed they had crafted a responsible budget.
After calling Monday’s meeting to order, Svetlichny said that Lukas would address what she and the board felt was the people’s misunderstanding of the $4 million in additional funds.
Michael Delcourt, a school board director from Standish, attempted to correct that claim of a misunderstanding but was quickly shut down by Svetlichny, who said Delcourt had not been recognized to speak.
Lukas then explained what is and is not covered by the state in the school budget. She pointed out that local debt is not covered because the state did not have input in the local decision to incur the debt. Student activities are only minimally covered by the state.
In addition, special education costs, which are mandated by law, are not fully covered. And, Lukas said, the formula the state uses for transportation costs “seems to discriminate against rural districts.” Under the state’s plan, the district is actually receiving $53,000 less than last year for transportation.
After Lukas had finished, the microphone was opened to the public. At first, it appeared that no one wanted to speak and Svetlichny prepared to close the hearing.
An issue irrelevant to the budget discussion, introduced by one man, saved the hearing from being adjourned.
Next up to the podium was Standish resident Jennifer Connors. Connors encouraged the board to make wise choices about where to spend the money saying, “It’s about the education, about the kids; not about who’s going to have the nicest school.”
Rita Bradbury of Hollis spoke after Connors, thanking Lukas for her explanation. “The people who voted against it (the budget) voted against the activities,” she said. “We want the activities.”
Bradbury told the board that the people in the SAD 6 district want accountability. They want to know that the board is being frugal. And they want to trust that basic needs are being met at the schools.
“Things as basic as – I want my child to sit in a chair when having lunch,” Bradbury said.
Bradbury said she voted for Article Four of the school budget in June and would vote for it again in the upcoming election.
Despite the 25 people in attendance, Bradbury was the last who chose to speak.
As Chairman Svetlichny prepared to close the public hearing portion of the meeting, he suggested that everyone should go and vote for the budget.
Director Michael Delcourt promptly suggested everyone should go and vote against the budget. After these words, the hearing was adjourned.
The public in the SAD 6 district will have their chance to decide in Tuesday’s election. Even towns in the district that voted in favor of Article Four in June’s election must vote again.
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