School budget plan in Eastport seeks 3% local share hike

With a drop in state subsidy of nearly $65,000 for the Eastport school system, Superintendent Arthur Wittine has proposed a draft budget that requests a 3% increase in local tax funding and eliminates the art program at Shead High School. Other savings are realized in the elementary school salary line since two teachers and a custodian who were at the top of the pay scale have retired or resigned and been replaced by personnel at a much reduced salary, based on their years of experience. Also, two educational technicians have been replaced with long-term substitutes.

Additional expenses include the lease/purchase of a new school bus at $23,800 and funding needed to address roof problems and floor tile replacement at the elementary school, with $10,000 set aside. Also, special education tuition has decreased by $20,000.

State transition funding, which serves as a "hardship cushion" for schools that would lose substantial state funding, has been reduced, with Eastport receiving about $55,000 less. According to draft subsidy figures, total state funding would be $1,094,389, or a 5.5% decrease over this year. Local funding being requested is $887,261, or a $25,843 increase. Last year a 5% increase in local funding ended up being approved. The budget will be considered by the school board at its June 5 meeting.

At its May 1 meeting, the board approved eliminating the art program at Shead for next year and terminated the contract with Karla Gamertsfelder to teach art at the high school. She will be offered the part-time art position at the elementary school. Wittine says the action was taken as a cost-savings measure, since the school system will be receiving less money from the state for next year.

Following an executive session, the board approved 3% raises and two-year contract extensions to June 30, 2009, for Shead Principal Terry Lux, Eastport Elementary School (EES) Principal Lovina Wormell and Director of Guidance Leah McLean. Also increased by 3% for the 2007-08 school year were the stipends for Patricia Cook, administrative secretary at Shead; Trudy Morrison, assistant principal at EES; Paul Theriault, dean of students at Shead; and Roberta Mitchell, special education coordinator at Shead. Robert Davis' stipend as athletic director at Shead will be $6,000.

Two new teachers were hired at the elementary school, Heather Goode and Barbara Will. Earlier in the year, longtime teachers Judith Flagg and Alda Murphy had submitted their resignations, effective at the end of the school year. Also, Wittine announced the resignation, at the end of this school year, of Katherine Hatton, a special education ed tech at Shead.

Teaching assignments at the elementary school for 2007-08 will be as follows: K4/K5, Diana Boone; Grade 1, Mary Seeley; Grades 2 and 3, Heather Goode; Grade 4, Lillian Randall; Grade 5, Peggy Davis; Grades 6 and 7, Barbara Will; Grade 8, Trudy Newcomb.

Second-year probationary contract teachers reappointed are Dawn Granville, Sara Moore, Gary Morin, Dana Bard, Benjamin Brigham, Damon Weston and Marilu Scott; first year continuing contract teachers reappointed are Reeser Manley and Susan Cox. Support staff reappointed are Denise Koehne, Christine Fournier, Judith Richardson, Caryn Vinson, Gertrude Pulk, Robert MacDonald, Benjamin Knowles, Colleen Cummings, Catherine Lee, Paul Thompson, Vicki Stanhope, Mary Ann Urquhart, Lisa Morrison, Julia Suddy, Theresa Mealey, Douglas Leighton, Harriet Real, James Will, John Mealey and Cheryl Thompson.

Shead Principal Lux told the board about the new trimester schedule for next year, which she says has been embraced by the teachers, students and parents. With 12-week classes, six periods per day and 55-minute class periods, the school will be able to add 20 more course offerings for students. She said that other high schools in the county are looking to change to trimester scheduling. Upcoming events at Shead include the academic awards banquet on May 29, the athletic banquet on May 30, and graduation on June 7.

EES Principal Wormell reported that Terrance Saunders has been hired as the junior high softball coach. Diana Boone has received a $325 grant from Calais Federal for end-of-year materials, and Boone presented the school with May baskets, a gift from the St. Croix International Garden Club. The board approved the eighth grade class trip to go whitewater rafting on the Kennebec River on June 3 and 4. The class raised enough funds to pay for the trip, with eight students going. Upcoming events at EES include the athletic and academic banquet on May 31, eighth grade graduation on June 12 and the last day of school on June 14.