Schools tackling tough budget decisions
Possible cuts in the Eastport school system because of a significant drop in revenue led to a healthy turnout of school staff, city councillors and city budget committee members at the April 6 Eastport School Committee meeting.
Superintendent Terry Lux told those attending that the loss in revenue this year, from both state subsidy cuts and the reduction in tuition revenue, is over $400,000, The following year, with the end of federal stimulus monies, the losses that school systems will see in federal and state funding will be even greater. She again related that after $100,000 was cut from the budget for Shead last year because of state subsidy reductions, the state ended up lowering the tuition rate that can be charged at Shead by $2,400, decreasing the school system's revenue further.
Concerning possible cuts, she said, "It's deep, it's wide, it's your friends and colleagues." But she added, "Our main objective is to not damage the education of students of this union."
Concerned about possible cuts in staffing, several staff members gave a presentation about the educational programs at the Eastport schools. Teacher Trudy Newcomb said that potential cuts are being considered without requesting input from teachers. She is concerned that, with pressure from local taxpayers and the effects of school consolidation, the school system's mission to educate students may be forgotten by the school board.
Jim Roberts, the Title 1 and Response to Intervention coordinator for the union, outlined efforts that are being undertaken to more fully meet the learning needs of students in the union. He felt that if any more staff are lost that the schools may be at "a tipping point" at which the needs of some students could not be met. He also reviewed five research-based reasons for why Shead is successful: there is greater participation in extracurricular activities, which is linked with academic success; small schools are safer; students feel they belong; small class size allows more individualized instruction; and good teaching methods are easier to implement.
Shead teacher Damon Weston outlined how cuts that could lead to reductions in the allowable tuition rate could result in a "dangerous downward spiral" for the high school.
School board member Will Bradbury observed, though, that a lower tuition rate can also be an opportunity in helping to attract more students. Several people pointed to the need to advertise the benefits of attending Shead to area communities. Shead Principal Paul Theriault said that "what sells Shead to other communities" is having people in the communities say good things about the school. "Communities have to help push that message."
Patricia Neptune, the school and community liaison at the high school, noted the close relationship between Shead and the Passamaquoddy students at Pleasant Point. "Shead provides an excellent education for students and does it in a caring and supportive way," she stated.
Theriault also pointed to the importance of having tuition students at Shead, noting that the per pupil cost at Lubec High School is about $13,000, while it is $6,200 at Shead. Unlike Lubec, Shead has a large number of tuition students C over 80 C which helps keep the costs down for Eastport taxpayers, he said.
Board chair Shannon Emery said the board does not want to make cuts and has not yet met to discuss the budget. She did not know if the board would be seeking an increase in the local share for education or not.
The board scheduled a budget meeting for Monday, April 12, at 6 p.m. at Shead. Representatives from the school staff will be attending, and the meeting is open to anyone from the public. Possible changes in the K-12 configuration and other ideas for addressing the budget crunch will be discussed at the meeting.
AOS meeting
Lux related that she has been contacted by school officials in Lubec about the possibility of sending high school students to Shead if the Lubec High School is closed. Eastport would be willing to send a bus to Whiting corner to pick up Lubec students, she said.
At a meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 8, Union 106, Union 104 and Lubec school board members will be discussing the possibility of forming an alternative organizational structure (AOS). The boards would have to act on April 8 in order for there to be a possibility of avoiding penalties from the state for not having consolidated. It appears as though Baileyville will be joining with towns to the north and west, including Lee Academy, to form another AOS.
Principals' reports
Shead Principal Paul Theriault reported that staff member Catherine Lee is the winner of the second Turtle Light Press haiku chapbook competitions. Her chapbook will be released in the fall. New courses being offered at Shead are Genetics, Growing and Eating Real Food, Drama and four modules of art classes that are being offered at the Eastport Arts Center at no cost to Shead. The Jobs for Maine's Graduates program will be offered again at Shead, after an anonymous donor agreed to fully fund the program for three years. Career exploration and team building workshops for area eighth graders will be held on April 15 at Shead, with the event funded through the MELMAC grant. A snow make-up day will be on May 1, when the SATs will be given. Coaches will be: tennis, Heron Weston; softball, Dana Bowen; baseball, Ron Sullivan. The National Honor Society induction be will be April 27 at 6:30 p.m.
EES Principal Lovina Wormell reported that sixth grader Dilon Townsend will be participating in the Junior National Youth Leadership Council in Washington, D.C., next week. He has raised $2,300 of the $2,700 cost himself. Elementary and high school staff have completed Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports training, and the literacy team of four staff members will be attending a Maine Content Literacy Project meeting in Hermon on April 8. Elementary school baseball coach will be Aaron Urquhart and softball coach will be Lamont Sanders. Spring Fling Week will be April 12B16, and the Shrine Circus trip will be on May 2.