Lubec board approves school budget’s sixth draft

In an emergency meeting held July 15, the Lubec school board approved the same draft 2020 2021 Lubec school budget that failed approval during the regularly scheduled meeting held a week earlier on July 9. The meeting was held via Zoom, all members were present, and it lasted about five minutes. Immediately after opening board member Joanne H. Case moved that the draft be accepted "as written." Her motion was immediately seconded by board member Melissa Lee. The vote was 4 1, with board member Wanda Matthews dissenting.
In an interview, AOS 77 Superintendent Kenneth Johnson announces that the public school budget vote will be held Thursday, August 6, at 6 p.m. in the school's cafetorium, preceded by an informational meeting at 5 p.m. Required safety protocols include masks, social distancing and a maximum of 50 participants.
Case was not present during the July 9 meeting, leading to a deadlocked 2 2 vote with Lee and board member Ariane Savage voting to approve the budget and board Chair Michael Jenkins and Matthews opposing. The draft that was approved was the sixth proposal and must still be approved by the voters.
The proposed 2020 2021 budget requires total local revenue -- funds to be paid by Lubec taxpayers -- of $1,710,222, which is $40,000 less than the 2019 2020 fiscal year budget. The reduction is achieved by an increase in the fund balance forward withdrawal of $225,200, an increase of $75,000 from last year's withdrawal. Superintendent Johnson has repeatedly warned against increased withdrawals from the fund balance, pointing out that in the current economic situation that money may be missed in the future. The total proposed 2020 2021 budget is $2,280,1645, including state and federal subsidies, an increase of $96,496 over the current budget.
Previously the board failed to agree on a proposed budget for the upcoming 2020 2021 fiscal year. Meeting by Zoom with Case missing on July 9, the board deadlocked on draft six. Shortly before the meeting Jenkins distributed his recommended changes to the board members but did not provide copies to either Johnson or to the public. Jenkins' proposal included portions that were blacked out, prompting objections from other board members who stated they did not know what the numbers were.
Following the July 9 discussion, Lee moved that sixth draft be adopted as written; her motion was seconded by Savage but opposed by Jenkins and Matthews. When Matthews then moved to adopt Jenkins' revisions, seconded by Jenkins, Johnson asked for a dollar total on that proposal. Jenkins provided that figure, which was $45,670 less than draft six, stating that it was taken largely from "regular instruction." At this point Lee observed, "This is bad form, not any way for a board to operate, particularly coming from the chair." Both Lee and Savage voted against the proposed changes, thus defeating the proposal.
Savage spoke at that point, objecting to the move to reduce instruction costs by saying, "They worked hard before the shutdown, and they worked hard after the shutdown."
Jenkins then proposed a unilateral change to the Lubec Community Outreach Center (LCOC) lease by requiring a $12,000 annual payment for heat - the topic of discussion for several years. Lee objected to this, suggesting that they base a request on the formula earlier proposed by LCOC representative Tim Doyle, which is based on a percentage of square feet of the total facility.
At this point Johnson spoke, pointing out that such an adjustment would be subject to ratification by the public during the as yet unscheduled referendum. "If the public votes this down," he asked, "would this board be prepared to explain to the public why the LCOC can no longer provide their services?" The board then agreed to conduct a special meeting, set for July 15 following a planned discussion with LCOC representatives.
The July 9 meeting started with a Zoom discussion with Dr. Judy Walker of the University of Maine regarding providing speech therapy services via the Internet. These services, she explained, have been provided since 2012. Following her initial comments, special education teacher Sherry Cox was invited to participate in the conversation. Describing one such session, Cox said, "My kids were intimidated," adding, "My experience was not what I wanted." The actual demand for these services is limited; Cox said that Lubec currently has one student with the possibility this fall of two more. Walker agreed that Internet-based services may lead to communication issues, describing one session she had witnessed where Chicago-based therapists worked with Maine students. In this session, the difference in accent posed a barrier, Walker explained, saying, "These kids couldn't understand" what the therapist was saying. In the end, Walker was thanked for her time but no decisions were made.
Johnson also spoke of the possibility of reopening the school for the upcoming scholastic year. "As it appears right now," he said, "regional numbers may be taken into account." He also added that regardless of the plan, four items would be a high priority. These are, he said, sanitation, meaning more cleaning; more frequent hand washing; the use of masks; and social distancing. Increased distancing can be achieved, Johnson explained, in the Lubec school by use of the library, the industrial arts room and the gymnasium. Decisions are pending, he said, regarding how the school will be reopened this fall.
Lee described how she and Matthews are working together to create a program to continue nutritional services to students during the summer. The pair has received "a very generous offer" from the Lubec Woman's Club to assist in this endeavor, she said. Lee asked Johnson whether unexpended grant funds currently carried on the school's books could be used for this purpose. He replied, "it would be an excellent use, but requires this board's approval" and that it "might be possible" to use the school's kitchen. The board approved $1,000 to be used as an advance. Johnson also pointed out that "cleaning up some of these little grants" will reduce audit costs, as they must be reviewed each year.