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A Message from Mike Wilhelm, Superintendent of Schools- Framing Our Budget Process The State has cut subsidy to Maine school systems mid-year by $38 million. As a result, M.S.A.D. No. 75 lost $413,000 and, consequently, has frozen discretionary spending and not filled openings to cover the shortfall. Next year the State budget shortfall is $74 million less than this year's budget. The Federal stimulus money, which schools benefited from this year, will also not be available. Taken all together, M.S.A.D. No. 75 is facing a loss of $1.2 million in State support next year as it begins its budget planning for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. This is a 7.4% loss in State subsidy. Student enrollment and local property values are two primary factors that influence distribution of the State's funding for education, General Purpose Aid. Currently, the formula is not working in the District's favor. We have seen our student population continue to drop. At the same time, the formula's two-year-old valuations for three District towns increased. The formula provides more money for districts with increased enrollments and falling valuations and less for districts with declining enrollments and rising valuations. The local economy has also changed the look of the District. Our free and reduced lunch population has reached a much larger percentage. We have gone from 26.8% to 31.8% in just one year. We know that the demands on town general assistance programs have seen considerable increases and that towns are facing the loss of state revenue sharing. Obviously current conditions limit the towns' ability to shoulder additional support for the District. Over the last few years, the District adjusted for subsidy losses and declining enrollments while working creatively to keep programs intact whenever possible. In 2008-2009 the District lost almost a million dollars in State and federal support and had to cut its budget by $1.6 million. In 2009-2010 the District benefited from the federal stimulus dollars and was able to keep its budget level. But to do so, it had to cut positions and operational expenses. Positions have been eliminated at all levels; and administrative and support staff jobs have been cut. Over the last three years 30 teaching positions have been eliminated. The Board of Directors wants its budget decisions to be planful and future-oriented. Facing these difficult times, the Board does not want to jeopardize effective programming and wants to make economic decisions that, in fact, could provide greater educational opportunity. It has embraced three trajectories - promoting greater collaboration with Brunswick, rethinking the District's school and instructional organization, and advancing learning through technology.
Even so, the District will have to make difficult and dramatic decisions in order to adjust to fewer subsidies. We will have to look at our instructional programming. We will have to look at our extracurricular programming. We will have to look at changes in our management. We will have to look at changes in our infrastructure. We are no longer in a position to trim around the edges and will be forced to consider all aspects of the District's operation. Class sizes will have to increase, some programs will be downsized or cut, and positions will be eliminated. The Board's Finance Committee will begin its work in earnest at the end of January. Administration has been asked to offer alternative ways to reduce the budget and to prioritize them. As alternatives are proposed, community input will be sought and seriously considered. The Finance Committee’s work will be posted on the District website. It should find its way into the local newspapers as well. We urge all community members to stay informed and to offer suggestions. If you wish to attend Finance Committee meetings, we have included a schedule in this publication. The schedule is posted on our website as well. As we move forward, we will be meeting with school parent groups and Town Selectmen. We seek your support and help as we do this critical work in these unprecedented times. |
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50 Republic Ave. |
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J. Michael Wilhelm, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools |
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Maine School Adminstrative District 75
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