Staff Writer
HOULTON — Budget woes seem to be a common theme this winter, and SAD 29 is no exception.
At their regular meeting Monday night, Assistant Superintendent Dawn Dougan told board members that decreases in Title 1 funds could mean changes are ahead in that program.
Title 1, a federal program, supports the education of disadvantaged students in kindergarten through grade 9 who need extra help to catch up to their grade level. Dougan said SAD 29 has roughly 20 Title 1 students at each grade level.
“We’re starting to come into a financial crunch,” she explained. “Staff wages and benefits are exceeding the money that’s coming in.”
Dougan said over the past few years, they’ve attempted to compensating for the decreasing revenue, but this year the issue seems to have come to head, meaning that the district will either have to look at adding in money at the local level or reducing the number of Title 1 teachers.
“We’re at a point now where we have to look at this,” said Dougan. “Over the last few years, we’ve done what we can to arrange for efficiencies. We have to look at what we can do that would have the least impact on students and the best impact on teachers.”
Board member Cynthia Hillman-Forbush expressed concern of the possible financial impact on the Title 1 program, calling it “a backbone” of education.
“These [Title 1] people are just vital,” she added. “We really need to look at this.”
But Title 1 isn’t the only challenge this year for the local districts.
Marion Gartley, special education director for the district, said her department is also facing a similar crunch with changes in Medicaid reimbursement.
“We have an excellent program and we’ve done very well providing the level of service we do with the number of ed techs we have,” she said. “But the Medicaid changes are going to hurt.”
“This is not going to be a typical budget year by any means,” added Superintendent Steve Fitzpatrick.
In other business, the board considered the following business.
• The district audit, recently completed by Davis Associates, shows that SAD 29 is in excellent shape, said Fitzpatrick. No inconsistencies were noted by auditors.
• Hillman Forbush Associates will supply professional development for the Math Investigations program.
• Spring athletic coaching positions were filled as follows: Shawn Graham, varsity baseball; Marty Gervais, junior varsity baseball; Bruce Nason, varsity softball; Mark Faulkingham, junior varsity softball; Jean Maunder, Tennis; Todd Willard, boys volleyball and intramurals; Bruce Nason, girls volleyball.
The next school board meeting will be Monday, April 7 at 6 p.m. at Houlton Southside School.
