Budget Advisory Board Supports School Action Plan

At last night's School Committee meeting, Darrell Orr (Facilities/Maintenance Interim Director), Cathy Messmer (Business Manager), and Ken Healey (Principal) reported on progress toward improvements and repairs to maintain accreditation as well as the proposed addition to the high school. Three members of the Budget Advisory Board were in attendance, and not only were they in total agreement that the project needs to go forth in the 2009-2010 budget, they were prepared to suggest that an additional $150,000 be found by the Town Council to fund the project this year if necessary, rather than the cost be put into a bond.

The proposed addition will house 7 classrooms and provide security and safety, both lacking with the current modular setup. Other necessary work will be part of the project, and include converting a current Social Studies classroom to a Science classroom with the installation of furniture, water and 3-4 sinks, re-piping gas lines to two Science rooms, radiator covers, moving the bus parking off site, a new vs. renovation analysis, geo-technical testing and engineering.

In order to fund the project this year with no increase to taxes, the School Committee has suggested for the 2009-2010 budget year holding off on hiring a replacement for a retiring Guidance Counselor at PWS and a new teaching position at LCS, a scheduled bus replacement, savings from Administrators and Directors receiving a less than anticipated increase in salaries, and the November Curtailment by the State of Maine being returned through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Other funds to be used out of the proposed budget include the lease payment to Schiavi for the existing modulars, and interest payments that were to be used had the $500,000 BAN passed. It is also estimated that engineering for the addition will be done at less cost than anticipated due to a large portion of the work being donated from an alumnus.