Article 7, about school administration positions, was discussed at a recent Lewiston School Committee budget meeting. The article contains information about principals, assistant principals and their support staff.
The article includes a $105,000 increase for the upcoming year and a potential additional $100,000 increase if the deans of students positions at Lewiston High School are retained.
Unlike the other parts of the proposed budget, which were cut by 25 percent, Article 7 has zero cuts. School administration is being considered “a protected class.”
While raising class sizes, removing pre-K classes, slashing sports, cutting teaching and education technician positions, deferring maintenance and a host of other cuts were put on the table, the “protected class” offered no cuts.
Every part of the budget should contain cuts.
The total cost of all school administration since 2013 could increase by as much as $529,099. School administration should not be a “protected class.”
As a retired teacher, I know how important education is for the children. It is difficult to consider a property tax increase if not all cuts are considered first.
Crystal Ward, Lewiston
Send questions/comments to the editors.
