FARMINGTON — The Regional School Unit 9 board continued its study Thursday night of the $28.9 million proposed budget for 2012-13 and listened to administrators’ explanations of the $3.6 million increase.
Most of that increase, $2.7 million, is for debt service. Insurance will cost more, Superintendent Michael Cormier said, and fuel is $23,000 more, David Leavitt, director of support services said, even though he locked in the lowest price.
Part of the reason for the higher fuel cost is the electrically heated portable classrooms in use while the $64 million Mt. Blue High School expansion and renovation continues in Farmington.
The good news, Cormier said, is the energy savings from improved technology.
“We’ll install more LED light bulbs, and we’ll change from oil heat to pellets and wood chips,” Leavitt said. “We’ll be adding insulation to the Cape Cod Elementary School roof, also.” The school is in New Sharon.
The district will install a pellet boiler in the Cascade Brook School and the bus garage, both in Farmington. The high school will be heated with wood chips in the fall, Leavitt said.
Transportation costs are high because of so many rural roads. Students within a mile of their school walk, Cormier told the board, and parents who build a house in remote areas shouldn’t expect school bus service to their door.
The fleet of 35 buses are bought through a lease-purchase plan and their average life is 18 to 20 years, Leavitt said.
“We don’t get 15 to 18 years out of every bus engine,” Cormier said, “but we do take very good care of our buses.”
Directors reviewed several categories, including library staff salaries and benefits. The district employs two librarians who also supervise the education technicians in elementary school libraries. Curriculum Coordinator Leanne Condon said librarians and technicians meet monthly to discuss goals and concerns, and plan program offerings.
“We’ve been very fortunate, from what I can see,” director Claire Andrews said. “Those teachers in the Mallett School (in Farmington) and Cascade Brook Elementary School libraries are professionals.”
The education technicians, she said, are paid less than teachers and don’t receive benefits, but they are certified teachers.
Technology Director Darcy Dunphy said the district has one full-time technician for 700 computers. She requested $20,000 to allow staff to expand hours and provide more services.
Adult and Community Education Director Ray Therrien asked for a $22,581 increase in his budget.
“We have instructors that are among the lowest paid in the state, and they deserve to be paid nearer to what other districts pay,” he said.
In other news, Cormier reviewed the proposal to add students from the town of Starks, which voted 72-5 Tuesday to formally withdraw from RSU 59 in Madison and join RSU 9.
Residents in Chesterville, Farmington, Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Temple, Vienna, Weld and Wilton will vote April 24 on whether to accept Starks’ request to join.
Starks students have until June 30, 2013, to decide which school district they wish to attend, Cormier said.
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