PARIS – School Administrative District 17 directors Monday identified four priorities for spending a possible increase in state education funds in 2018-19.
They are:
• Hiring interventionists for grades 3-6 to help students improve academic achievement and behavior;
• Replacing the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School roof and HVAC systems;
• Implementing a single bus run to accommodate a later start for the middle and high school students; and
• Looking at increasing access to psychological and social services for regular education students.
Superintendent Rick Colpitts said these will be examined in greater detail throughout the year.
Colpitts said the $162 million for education in the state budget, which was approved by the state Legislature in July, will provide $113.6 million for 2018-19. A total of $48.4 million was allocated for 2017-18.
The seemingly good news may not be all that, he said.
“How will they divide it up? That’s the question,” Colpitts said.
At issue is how much of the 2018-19 allocation must go to reducing the local share, he said.
In 2017-18, legislation mandated that 50 percent of the allocation be used to reduce local tax contributions, unless a local warrant had been approved, which was the case in the eight SAD 17 towns.
Colpitts said there is an ongoing debate as to whether another 50 percent has to be returned to the local share. The Department of Education believes it does.
Colpitts told directors that in 2017-18, SAD 17 received an approximate 1.73 percent increase in state funding. If everything remained the same in 2018-19, SAD 17 would see a $1.96 million increase.
But, he cautioned, that assumption is a “dreamland.”
Colpitts said changes in the Essential Programs and Services, and other changes signal possible negative impacts in the funding distribution for SAD 17.
On the other hand, he said, there may be some positive impacts, including eliminating a 3 percent shortfall in EPS and upfront funding for new pre-kindergarten programs and more money for disadvantaged students and special needs students.
Directors have expressed a desire to fund a number of long-range projects, programs and positions, such as an elementary foreign language program, full-time principals at each elementary school, full-time nursing at each school, a late start for the high school and a new high school roof.
Colpitts asked them to prioritize them, which resulted in the top four.
In other business, the board:
• Heard from administrators about Aspire Higher events, which included a parade with some 4,000 members of the SAD 17 community Oct. 18;
• Accepted a $1,000 donation from Helping Hands Food Bank to support a food pantry organized by the Oxford Hills School Student Council and advisers;
• Voted to approve nominations for stipend positions in the music program and on subject area committees;
• Approved the superintendent’s nomination of a pre-kindergarten teacher at the Guy E. Rowe School, an educational technician III position at the Western Maine Regional Program for Children with Exceptionalities, and an elementary school custodian; and
• Approved an annual field trip for fifth-graders at Harrison Elementary School to the University of Maine 4-H Camp & Learning Center in Woodstock in November.
ldixon@sunmediagroup.net
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