At the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor school committee meeting on January 23, the committee reviewed the BRES and BRHS technology and special education budgets. Committee member Sandra Paxson also presented a revised draft cell phone policy for the committee's consideration.

Dave Landry, BRHS, and Judy Dorr, BRES, presented the proposed technology budgets for the next school year. The BRES budget presents an 8.7 percent increase over last year's budget and includes increased expenditures for repairs, software upgrades, computer supplies and new computers and equipment. Dorr explained that BRES needs to purchase software upgrades for the existing computers so that all school computers are compatible. Landry and Dorr are also working to bring the BRES computers up to the level of the high school's with the aim of syncing the two systems in the near future.

Dorr said that the work being done by the students was "exciting" and acknowledged an ongoing need to keep up with technological advances to meet student's abilities. "The more that they know, it's inevitable that the more we will need," said Dorr.

Landry proposed a BRHS technology budget about two percent lower than last year's. The biggest change is a significant reduction in the amount budgeted to lease laptop computers. Landry is proposing to purchase five new IMACs, two new projectors and two new laser printers for the high school.

Trish Harrison presented an elementary special education budget that is 3.9 percent higher than last year's. The largest increase results from the need to hire another education tech to meet the needs of the high number of students with special needs expected next year. Harrison cautioned that further hires might be necessary to meet this large increase in special education students.

The proposed BRHS special education budget is up about 5.4 percent. Similar to the elementary school, another ed tech will be hired to meet changing student needs and changes in the state's education requirements. Harrison said that the high school must offer more work-based programs and students in these programs need additional supervision.

Sandra Paxson presented a revised draft policy to regulate the use of wireless communication devices that provides stiffer consequences for non-compliance. Devices governed by the draft policy include cell phones, pagers, PDAs, laptop computers with phone capability, two-way radios, and walkie-talkies.

Under this proposal, confiscated communication devices would not be returned until a conference has been held with the student's parent or guardian. A first offense results in a warning and confiscation of the device to the end of the day. For a second offense, the device will be confiscated and only returned to a parent or guardian. The student will be prohibited from possessing a personal wireless communication device on school property for a length of time determined by the school principal or designee. The student will also serve one Saturday detention. Under a third offense, the student will be prohibited from possessing a communication device on school property for up to the remainder of the school year and will be suspended for up to three days. Any additional offenses will result in additional disciplinary consequences up to and including expulsion.

Jack Tourtillotte, BRHS Principal, said that Paxson had done a terrific job revising the draft policy. The committee members agreed and adopted the new draft for a first reading. Superintendent Eileen King recommended sending this new draft to faculty and the student council for review, and scheduling the school committee's next review of the policy for its February 12 meeting.