DIXFIELD — The RSU 10 board directed Superintendent Tom Ward on Monday to return next week with recommended cuts that would bring the 2013-14 budget to $36 million.
The original budget requests totaled $37.6 million, which is $2.5 million more than the current budget.
The board’s decision came after Ward made a series of recommended cuts that would, among other things, eliminate costs for conducting accreditation of the district’s three high schools in Rumford, Dixfield and Buckfield.
Buckfield high school was scheduled to begin its accreditation process in the coming year. The $30,000 would pay for it and dues to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges for Dirigo and Mountain Valley high schools, whose accreditations are up-to-date.
Mountain Valley High School Principal Matt Gilbert said he has not seen any negative connotations for schools without NEASC certification.
“The importance is self-reflection,” he said. “We can do a lot of that among the staff.”
Ward, who had recommended the accreditation costs as one item that could be eliminated, said it was a tough decision. Once the district stops raising funds for the process, NEASC accreditation would likely not return, he said.
Buckfield board member Maida Demers-Dobson objected to the proposal. She questioned what would take its place.
“I just get anxious when I think about budget cuts in such things,” she said. “I know these things are all agonizing costs, but with most of them, they could be brought back. With accreditation, when it’s done, it’s done.”
Other recommendations for removal from a proposed 2013-14 budget include: a $191,000 reduction in building maintenance; $100,000 from technology, which would mean the loss of two positions; not adding another prekindergarten class at Dirigo Elementary School in Peru; and the elimination of two educational technicians, one trip bus driver, three interim teaching positions and a part-time industrial arts teacher.
The recommendations also included returning the second floor of the Buckfield Town Office building to the town, reducing the stipends paid for coaching, cutting the costs for classroom supplies and reducing extracurricular and co-curricular activities.
Following Monday’s discussion, the board decided it wants Ward to find at least another $300,000 to $400,000 in additional cuts to bring the 2013-14 budget to $36 million.
According to recent state valuations, Ward said school taxes in about half of the district’s member towns would increase, while the other half would experience a decrease.
A special board meeting was set for 6:30 p.m. April 29 at Dirigo High School in Dixfield to finish discussion and adopt a proposed budget to send to voters.
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