The CSD school committee met on Wednesday, February 27 and heard of Boothbay taxpayers' concern over the $100,000 debt being incurred by the district stemming from the Lewis lawsuit settlement reported in the February 21 edition.

The taxpayers' messenger was Boothbay selectman and vice chair Dan Harris. Town managers John Anderson (Boothbay) and Tom Woodin (Boothbay Harbor) were also present.

Harris stated that at the selectmen's last meeting, their budget discussion led to questions about the amount that could be expected for Boothbay's contribution to the school budget. This then led to a discussion about the large settlement to be borne by the district/taxpayers.

Boothbay pays 64 percent and Boothbay Harbor bears 36 percent of the school budget.

"I have heard that you are looking into finding a way to absorb it into the school's budget," said Harris. "My reaction to that is, if you can find a way to absorb $100,000 - you should do it."

Harris stressed that the settlement should not be borne by the taxpayers either through the school board budget or by squeezing the school budget and thereby shortchanging the student population.

Harris told the board that there was an equally significant issue that resulted from the settlement terms - accountability.

"Perception is another issue. Kids look to you all for guidance, about what is right and what is wrong. When somebody does something as is indicated in that letter of apology and can get away with only an apology and not cover the damage that resulted from the actions … that is not being accountable," Harris said.

"God help us if our kids grow up thinking that they can cause somebody harm and simply get away with an apology. If the system works, then one has to be accountable for one's actions," said Harris regarding the letter of apology written by Principal Jack Tourtillotte and former Superintendent Mark Keegan to Fred Lewis.

School Committee Chairman Larry Colcord responded by saying that there was much more to the case than had been published in the paper.

"We feel we have to trust our administrators. We don't want to create an environment that would make our administrators worry about taking the necessary steps … we have to trust them," said Colcord. "We believe the right decisions were made and we stand behind them."

Harris contended that even in a case of negligence where an action taken causes injury to somebody, that would clearly be covered by the school committee. But if an action was taken that was not justified that would then take it "beyond the scope of his or her employment."

Colcord assured Harris that other concerns arose that warranted the action taken by the school administrators.

Harris questioned whether the nature of the other concerns could be revealed, perhaps in executive session.

Colcord said the school committee and Superintendent Eileen King were hearing the same questions and that the committee was waiting for the court documents to be made public.

King had requested the documents three or four weeks prior, but they were not available.

Colcord said he and the rest of the committee had no problem meeting with Harris, or anyone, once the documents were made public.

School committee member Alex Logan stated that he would attend an executive session only if the school attorneys agreed that such a meeting was appropriate.

Logan added that regarding the case, "This expense to the district and to the taxpayers … I am not of the mind to not pay that. They work for us, they made some errors in procedure, but I do not feel they were egregious. We stand behind them."

"But, it's not your money, and it's not my money, it's the taxpayers' money," Harris said. "That's a big difference. It's hard to be generous with someone else's money - particularly given all the public knows of the facts of the case at this time."

Harris requested that until the transcripts of the court proceedings were made available that the committee not take any action that would prejudice them such as an exchange of releases or paying out severance packages and the like.

Woodin said that the Harbor selectmen were asking the same questions as their Boothbay counterparts and that they were "waiting for an explanation of the budget."

King voiced her thoughts on how to pay the settlement without placing the burden on the CSD's taxpayers.

"We have looked at anticipated revenue versus projected revenue; we are also looking at our expenditures, staff changes…I am making every effort I can to absorb the $100,000 out of the current budget (2007-2008)," said King.

King explained that she had already frozen the budget due to the state's shortfall.

She went on to say that as of now, projected revenue showed the CSD would be receiving approximately $143,000 more than was budgeted for last year. King is looking at a carry forward at the end of the year, roughly $206,000, based on projecting out through June, what the essential expenditures and non-essential expenditures.

King said she is facing two issues: the ability to absorb this cost through the budget, and the state subsidy shortfall that was $99 million dollars and is now projected to be closer to $200 million.

"In 1993, the last time the state experienced a shortfall, subsidy checks from the state were withheld until closer to the end of the school year," said King. "So, can we absorb this $100,000 in this year's budget so we do not have to raise any money for next year's budget regarding this issue? And, if we do, it still does not mean it will not impact the taxpayers in some way because I will not have that carry forward to offset next year's budget."

King recently received a memo from the state regarding general purpose aid.

"Right now to offset the shortfall we are expecting they are recommending a cut in what the minimum receivers receive one of the greater scenarios - either the minimum subsidy or 50 percent of Special Ed funding, whichever one is greater," said King.

Fifty percent of Special Ed equates to $400,000 for the CSD and the CSD is looking at a 50 percent cut in state subsidy funding.

"I think it's in the best interests of all to do all we can do is try to absorb the $100,000 in this year's budget as much as we can," King said. "And continue to put together budgets that will keep the assessment to the taxpayers as low as possible, but a lot of it is out of our control."

King alerted the school committee to a leave of absence request received from Eric Chamberlin. Chamberlin, who has been employed at the school for nine years, has requested the time to head west with his family for participation in the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada. The Chamberlins expect to return in May or June of 2010. Mr. Chamberlin expressed the hope that his position as technology coordinator would still be available upon his return. The school committee approved his leave of absence request.

The school committee agreed on Monday, April 28 as the date for the public district budget meeting. The meeting will be in the Boothbay Region Elementary School gymnasium at 7 p.m.