Faced with a $400,000 shortfall in state subsidy, the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD School Committee considered further reductions in next year's school budget at their March 12 meeting at Boothbay Region Elementary School. Superintendent Eileen King presented three different funding scenarios, and noted that although the school committee has not considered personnel cuts, they may have to achieve a budget acceptable to taxpayers.

Because of huge budget shortfalls, the state has cut about $34 million in general purpose aid to education for next year. Those cuts have not been distributed equally across the state. While Portland will see its state school aid rise 16 percent and Bangor's is up six percent, the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD has lost 50 percent of its state subsidy for next year. That 50 percent cut is precisely what the state threatened to take away should the CSD decide not to consolidate. What bearing that has on future funding and the CSD's consolidation choice is not presently clear. However, in the present, school administrators are faced with making large cuts in the school budget to avoid a big increase to taxpayers.

King presented three different school budgets at the March 12 meeting. Under Budget A, teacher positions that have recently been vacated would not be filled, but funding for other programs is not changed. Expenditures under school budget A are $987 higher than last year, but because of the subsidy loss, the total assessment to the towns would increase by $278,257 or 3.8 percent. Because of changes in school enrollment, Boothbay voters would see a 2.4 percent increase over last year, whereas Boothbay Harbor's share of school costs would increase by 6.4 percent.

Under Budget B, vacant teacher positions would not be filled, about $100,000 in funds for a variety of elementary and secondary school programs would be cut, and one bus run would be terminated. Budget B results in an expenditures budget that is $134,000 less than last year's, but due to subsidy loss, the overall assessment is $143,262 or 1.98 percent higher than last year. Boothbay Harbor residents would see their contribution to the school budget increase by 4.5 percent while Boothbay's increases by 0.6 percent.

Budget C includes all the budget cuts associated with Budget B, but includes additional personnel cuts to decrease budget expenditures to $209,312 less than last year. The specific personnel and programs that would be affected under option C were not identified. The overall assessment to the towns under Budget C increases by $67,958 or 0.94 percent over last year. Boothbay Harbor's share of the school budget would be 3.4 percent higher than last year, while Boothbay's would decline by 0.5 percent.

King said that she would be consulting further with the BRES and BRHS principals regarding the proposed cuts. The school committee is expected to adopt a proposed budget at its next meeting on March 26.

For the first time this year, voters will be approving the school budget via a secret ballot vote during town elections in May. Because of discrepancies in the school consolidation legislation, there is controversy about the timing and reporting details for the school budget hearing prior to the town vote. The school committee had planned to hold its budget public hearing within 10 days of the scheduled vote, but due to citation problems in the legislation, the district may have to hold its hearing three days before the votes. The budget hearing is presently scheduled for April 28.

Superintendent King provided school committee members with a draft bullying policy for their review. King said that school administrators and staff are also reviewing the draft policy. Joel Austin, BRHS, said that the school had been working closely with the Boothbay Harbor Police Department to confront some of the discipline and bullying problems at BRHS. BHPD officers are making regular, informal visits to the school on Thursdays. The draft policy will be considered for adoption at the next school committee meeting.

Committee Chairman Larry Colcord announced that he had received a letter of resignation from Chris Norton, BRES Physical Education teacher, after 28 years of exemplary service at BRES. Tim Rice has also resigned as BRHS football coach and Ted Brown has resigned as assistant football coach.

The next school committee meeting is scheduled for March 26 at 6:30 p.m.