WASHBURN, Maine — On May 3 at 6 p.m. in the Washburn Elementary School gymnasium, the SAD 45 School Board will host an informational meeting on the proposed 2019 school budget.
The district, like many others statewide, faces reductions in state education funding and a decline in both resident and student populations.
At this informal meeting, the board wants to collect comments and suggestions from the community on issues facing the 2019 education budget, and to gather input on education priorities.
At the board’s request, Superintendent Brian Carpenter and Assistant Superintendent Clint Deschene will present information and answer questions from the public on the communities’ expectations.
“We are at a crucial point in our district where we have cut to the point where the quality of education for our students could be jeopardized,” Board Chairman Ryan Rackliffe said.
“We believe further cuts will impact the education we must provide,” he said. “Front and center is our responsibility to our students and additional cuts will have a negative impact. We need the community to be aware of and carefully consider the potential impact to the district if we make further cuts.”
The input shared at this meeting will help develop a final budget package to be adopted by the board for presentation to the community at the usual district budget meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for May 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Washburn Elementary School gym.
Community members can view a brief memo from the district outlining issues and possible options at www.msad45.net, or by emailing District Business Manager Teresa Ewing at tewing@msad45.net.
For more information, contact Carpenter at bcarpenter@msad45.net.
