SAD 32 directors address school budget concerns
ASHLAND, Maine — It was business as usual for the Ashland SAD 32 board of directors last week although it was believed more community members would attend the Sept. 14, 2015 meeting due to recent accusations and hearsay about school over-spending. Just four citizens were in attendance, all of whom are school district employees.
The heightened interest in the school budget gained steam after a business in the town began posting comments about spending decisions of the school district on a sign outside their premises. This has caused some community members to become irate, while others have been supportive and defensive of the education budget. Either way, the subject of school district finances has created an undeniable buzz in district-supporting communities.
Following the call to order and discussion of general business, SAD 32 Superintendent of Schools Gehrig Johnson addressed the recent chatter in town regarding school district financial matters. Johnson said though he “wouldn’t normally acknowledge” the talk about town he “wanted to clarify” issues regarding the budget. Johnson further stated while a citizen “has the perfect right to do so” (regarding the sign postings), “the budget is misrepresented in a big way”.
Johnson noted two specific postings which have caused a whirlwind of debate being the supposed “$6,000 annual budget for cell phones” and what was listed as “the salary of two custodians being $125,000”.
Johnson explained the cell phone was budgeted $6,000, but the actual spending was $1,000. School Board Chair, Sheila Lyons further explained the “absolute necessity” for some employees to have wireless communications saying “Cell phones are in place. We can’t have a bus driver stuck somewhere with a bus full of children.”
Regarding the alleged $125,000 salary for two employees, Johnson said “I don’t know where they got that figure, but 11 people actually get paid out of the line”, referring to the budget line with the salary figure.
Johnson continued to discuss budgetary matters in general. “(School) spending has actually been flat. Taxes are up due to decreased state funding.” Lyons added “the state has taken away more money from us. The budget goes up to meet contractual differences and to pay for the rising costs of oil and those type expenses.”
The topic was then closed as those in attendance were satisfied with the discussion.
In other business, a program report was presented by the Director of 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC), Holly Johnson. She reported on the success of the after-school program, crediting the “team support” from other departments. It was reported an average of 35 children attend the program and she “expected and hoped to have more.” When asked, Director Johnson verified the entire CCLC program budget is federally funded.
The next Ashland SAD 32 school board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. All community members are encouraged to attend.
