PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — For the third consecutive year, SAD 1 is expecting to keep its fiscal year budget flat, resulting in no increase in local property taxes.
Superintendent Ben Greenlaw gave an overview of the proposed 2021-2022 budget during a budget workshop Wednesday evening. If passed, the budget would total $26.5 million, a 2.3 percent increase over last year’s budget.
Since initial estimates in February, SAD 1 now expects to receive $14.8 million in state Essential Programs and Services funds, with the district required to raise another $6.1 million through local taxes.
Greenlaw attributed the slight increase in total budget to a strong cash balance, staff salaries and expenses such as increased propane and water costs and installing a new wheelchair lift in Zippel Elementary School. The district has eliminated one teaching position, one library technician position and one secretary, but added a high school librarian position and two special education technicians.
Greenlaw said that the various rounds of federal COVID-19 relief funds have allowed the district to purchase updated technology software and equipment, replace four school buses and install new siding at Presque Isle High School without raising their budget or local taxes.
“Overall, we’re in good financial shape,” Greenlaw said, about the budget.
SAD 1 Superintendent Ben Greenlaw (right) and board member Jim Bubar review proposed budget numbers during a budget workshop. (Melissa Lizotte | The Star Herald)
SAD 1 is also close to paying off several of its major debts, including upgrades to the soccer turf at Presque Isle Middle School, a capital improvement bond to transfer the district from oil to propane heating and replacement of floors at Pine Street Elementary that contained asbestos. Most of those debts are expected to be paid by 2025.
After hearing the budget overview, department leaders gave the school board an update on where their budgets stand and major expenses from the past year. Bob Gagnon, operations supervisor, noted that the proposed $2.5 million for transportation and $3.4 million for facilities maintenance would cover wages for 13 part-time bus drivers, 13 full-time drivers and custodians and 10 substitute drivers.
Gagnon anticipates building upgrades for the next year to largely come from a pending round of federal COVID-19 funds and to include a new emergency generator and 32 new doors for Mapleton Elementary, new windows for Presque Isle High School and new furniture at Pine Street.
Darren Hunter, information technology director, attributed his budget request of $811,950 to necessary expenses to retain new software and equipment that his department has purchased since the start of the pandemic. He and four other district technicians now service more than 1,700 iPads, 150 computers and 150 classroom SMART Boards.
Due to families’ increased reliance on virtual learning, Hunter and his staff processed 3,295 tickets from people requesting help with technology since July 1 compared to 1,300 tickets during that same period the previous school year. Most of those issues were resolved within 22 hours, he said.
In an update on special education, director Megan Stanley said that as of Oct. 1, 2020, 314 students were enrolled. That number represents 18 percent of SAD 1’s total student body and is aligned with the state average.
The proposed budget of $3.6 million, an increase from $3.4 million last year, would cover annual salary and consultation expenses as well as the hiring of two ed techs. The hires are happening in anticipation of more remote learners returning to in-person education and many students transferring from one school building to another.
SAD 1’s budget proposal lists “all other expenditures, including school lunch” as being potentially funded for $376,092. Kathy Allen, food services director, mostly spoke about her staff’s efforts to serve students throughout the pandemic, starting in March 2020 when the district first went into lockdown.
With assistance from the transportation staff, food services delivered or distributed in person 32,254 lunches and 31,924 breakfast meals across the district from March to June 2020. Starting in July, food services transitioned into its regular summer meal program, during which staff served 13,521 lunches and 36,518 breakfast meals to students in SAD 1 as well as to families in Mars Hill and Easton.
Throughout the school year, SAD 1 kept all school breakfast and lunches free to all students due to the pandemic.
The school board is expected to vote on the district budget during its next regular meeting, to be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19, in the high school cafeteria. A district budget meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, and the budget validation vote will occur on Tuesday, June 22.
