MARS HILL, Maine — More than 40 people came to SAD 42’s annual budget meeting at Central Aroostook High School on Tuesday.
The $5.4 million budget for the 2020-2021 school year — about a $125,000 increase in spending since last year — passed with little controversy. Residents followed all of the school board’s proposals unanimously, Superintendent Elaine Boulier said. The meeting lasted only about 35 minutes.
Approximately $2 million of the total budget will come from local contributions in property taxes — $1.5 million from Mars Hill and $450,000 from Blaine. That number went up about $94,000 in Mars Hill and about $25,000 in Blaine since last year’s budget, which the school attributed to increased valuation in those communities. The mill rate did not change.
Approximately $2.2 million will come from the state’s Essential Programs and Services allocation for the district — about a $27,000 decrease since last year’s amount.
The only new positions hired by the district were two new ed tech positions for elementary school students and one social worker. Custodian and bus driver positions — both full time — were cut.
Boulier said the district had taken several measures to reduce expenses, including cuts to supplies, technology and bus maintenance. It had also combined some classrooms due to small class size.
About $2.3 million was allocated for regular instruction, $900,000 for special education, $200,000 for co-curricular and extra-curricular programs, $300,000 for transportation and $700,000 for systems and school administration,
While the district had plans to move some people to an overthrow room if the crowd grew beyond 50 people — the limit provided by Gov. Janet Mills during her civil state of emergency — 42 people attended total.
While most students in Bridgewater go to SAD 42 schools, Bridgewater officially has its own school department. The town pays a set amount to SAD 42 for each student who attends each year, said Bridgewater Town Manager Jill Rusby.
SAD 42’s superintendent said she was very pleased with the meeting. It seemed to function as a standard budget meeting, with COVID-19 not coming up during the proceedings.
“In my years as superintendent, the taxpayers of both Mars Hill and Blaine have always supported the budget, school, staff and students,” Boulier said. “It is a wonderful community to be a part of.”
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that SAD 42 had hired two social workers, a teacher and an ed tech. The district has added a new social worker and two new ed techs since last year.
