Some school district budgets have been decided, while other budgets are still in the works. RSU 71, Lincolnville Central School, and Maine Maritime Academy, and Region 8 school  all have meetings during the week of April 27 to May 1.

RSU 71

Belfast, Morrill, Searsmont, Swanville and Belmont

There will be a meeting of the Board of Directors of RSU 71 Monday, April 27, 6:30 p.m., in the Troy Howard Middle School library, 173 Lincolnville Ave, Belfast.

This meeting is open to the public, and there will be a time for public comment at the beginning of the meeting.

The agenda includes policy adoption (Section G). The policies committee has continued it’s very hard work of reviewing all of the policies; 

Lincolnville Central School

Lincolnville Central School Committee meets at the Lincolnville Town Office Tuesday, April 28, at 6 p.m. This joint meeting, with the town’s budget committee is open for public hearing. 

Paul Russo, Lincolnville School principal, will present the warrant articles for the school budget and answer questions from community members and Lincolnville Budget Committee members.

Region 8

A cooperative board meeting will take place Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. Prior to this meeting, will be meetings of the Ad Hoc Concept and Design Committee 3:30 – 5:30 p.m., the Adult Ed Advisory Committee 5:30 – 6 p.m., and the Finance/Budget Committee, 6:30 – 7 p.m. 

Agenda for the regular board meeting, 7 p.m., will include teacher contracts and usage of private vehicles for school business.

The agenda is as follows:

Approval and Vote on 2015-16 School Calendar

Discussion of Budget Approval Methods

Board Approval and Vote on Skills USA Trip to Louisville, KY

Teacher Nominations for Continuing and Probationary Contracts

Cooperative Agreement Amendments and Discussion – Bill Pearce

• BBB Cooperative Board Membership/Elections/Appointments

• BEDC Quorum and Weighted Votes

MSMA Member Resolution to Amend Declaration of Trust and Participation Agreement

• Vote on Amendments to Participation Agreements

Many Flags Update – Kim Appleby

Committee Reports:

[Note: A board vote on these policies would not occur until the May meeting]

A. Finance Committee Jerry White

B. Policy Committee Bill Pearce

• Approval of April Warrants

• First Readings

BID: Board Member Compensation

(Revised)

EEAG: Volunteer Driving Agreement Rationale

(Delete)

EEAG-E: Volunteer Driving Agreement Form

(Delete)

EEBB: Use of Private Vehicles for School Business (Replaces EEAG/EEAG-E)

(NEW)

C. Adult Ed Advisory Committee Joanne Richards

D. Concept and Design Committee 

Maine Maritime Academy 

The Maine Maritime Academy Board of Trustees will meet from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 1 in the Holmes Alumni Heritage Room, located at the Harold Alfond Student Center on the campus in Castine. 

The Board of Trustees quarterly meeting will begin at 2:30 p.m., also in the Holmes Alumni Heritage Room. 

The next MMA Board of Trustees meeting will be held Friday, August 7 at 8:30 a.m.

MSAD 28

Finance Committee Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.

Administration presented a list of further reductions/changes to the requested budget. Actual health insurance premiums will increase 3.5 percent for 2015-2016. All three Union Contracts for wages/benefits are currently under negotiations. A 2-3 percent increase has been budgeted for payroll increases.

The finance committee reviewed first level changes and approved all by “straw poll vote”. In addition, level two reductions were reviewed and by straw poll vote the finance committee approved $235,782 in reductions, which included maintenance reserves, food service subsidy, and DJ fees. Maintenance repairs of $440,000 for the Camden Rockport Middle School have a significant impact on the budget.

The finance committee agreed to send a budget to the School Board for approval which results in a 3.86 percent ($442,427) increase to the taxpayer, a 3 percent ($375,706) increase to the budget, a total assessment to taxpayers of $11,910,063, and a total expense budget of $12,886,585.

Budget documents can be found at www.fivetowns.net.

The budget to actual was reviewed for March. The budget should have 23 percent remaining and currently there is 25.29 percent remaining. The sub lines in instruction will be over budget due to the need for long-term subs this year. If there is not enough savings in other instruction cost center expenses money will need to be moved from the contingency. Overall, administration felt there might be between 2-3 percent remaining in the budget at year-end.

Five Town CSD

Appleton, Camden, Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport

Finance Committee Minutes 4-8-15

The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m.

Administration presented a list of further reductions/changes to the requested budget. Actual health insurance premiums will increase 3.5 percent for 2015-2016. All three Union Contracts for wages/benefits are currently under negotiations and a 2-3 percent increase has been budgeted for payroll increases.

The finance committee reviewed first level changes and approved all by “straw poll vote”. The finance committee agreed to send a budget to the School Board for approval which results in a 2.13 percent ($216,079) increase to the taxpayer, a 2.43 percent ($285,597) increase to the budget, a total assessment to taxpayers of $10,370,292 and a total expense budget of $12,060,715.

The budget to actual was reviewed for March. The budget should have 23 percent remaining and currently there is 21.70 percent remaining. Administration reported that the variance was due to timing issues —- we have paid the entire debt service for the year and are also one payment ahead for Mid Coast School of Technology.

Budget documents can be found at www.fivetowns.net.