PARIS — School Administrative District 17 directors Monday night voted unanimously to approve the warrants for the June 8 budget meeting and June 13 budget validation referendum.
The action moves the recommended $39.68 million spending plan for 2017-18 to voters in the eight district towns. The budget is a 1.73 percent more than this fiscal year, which ends June 30.
The district budget meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Forum in Paris. At that time, voters will act on a line-by-line warrant. They will also be asked to approve exceeding the Essential Programs and Services funding by $1.09 million and use any additional state subsidy to pay for educational programs, facility needs, reduce local taxes and other measures.
Superintendent Rick Colpitts told the board that the latest information from the State House is that June 30 will be the “drop dead” date for the Legislature to approve education funding.
The budget validation referendum will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, at polling stations in Norway, Paris, Oxford, Otisfield, Harrison, Waterford, West Paris and Hebron.
Higher costs in the budget include:
• $500,000 in negotiated pay increases;
• $789,000 in special education;
• $475,000 in health insurance;
• $42,000 in reading curriculum; and
• $32,000 in assessments.
It also includes $55,000 to bring back full-time principals at Hebron Station and Agnes Gray Elementary School in West Paris, and one additional bus purchase.
In other news, directors approved the following appointments:
• Seventeen coaching nominations at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, including head football coach Mark Soehren, and 11 Oxford Hills Middle School coaching positions;
• Deidre Cutter, school interventionist, Paris Elementary; Elizabeth Gallagher, school nurse; and district social worker Elizabeth Rankin;
• Miranda Derenburger, nurse, Oxford Hills Middle School; and Deanna Meagher, district social worker;
• Eleanor Schwaner, district speech language pathologist; Lindsay Fox, science teacher, Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School; Katie Libby, secretary, Paris Elementary School; Megan LaCroix, grade 5 teacher, Paris Elementary School; Vincent Alai, custodian, Guy E. Rowe Elementary School; and Theresa Toothaker, educational technician III, Guy E. Rowe Elementary School;
The board also approved:
• An educational field trip to Boston for Oxford Elementary School fifth grade students on Tuesday, June 13; an overnight camping trip to Hartland for the Connections for Academic and Personal Success program May 23-24; the senior class trip to Boston on June 9; and a field trip to Boston for Guy E. Rowe Elementary School fifth-graders on June 13; and
• The second and final reading of the students club and organizations policy.
ldixon @sunmediagroup.net
Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Principal Ted Moccia told School Administrative District 17 directors Monday about an overnight camping trip to Hartland for the Connections for Academic and Personal Success program.
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