ROCKLAND — In a meeting hosted by the Rockland City Council on Wednesday, members of the Regional School Unit 13 Board explained the school district’s proposed fiscal year 2016 budget of $25,864,809.85, which they’ve already reduced from a starting point of $27 million.

RSU 13 Superintendent John McDonald, Business Manager Peter Orne, Board Chairman Steve Roberts and Vice Chairman Loren Andrews all provided input as to the finances, growth and direction of the school district.

Although RSU 13 is comprised of five municipalities (Rockland, Cushing, Thomaston, South Thomaston and Owls Head), Rockland taxpayers, with the largest population, contribute a greater amount of the overall school bill. This burden is especially noticeable as Rockland councilors struggle to cut at least $1 million from its own fiscal year 2016 proposed budget, which is weighed down by a minimal revenue growth and a much higher rate of school costs.

There are nine school buildings within the district, some with as few as 68 students, and some with more than 200 students.

Councilors questioned why the proposed budget wasn’t less considering the withdrawal of students of St. George from RSU 13.

St. George paid $1.7 million dollars in direct costs for its school, the teachers, principal, and maintenance, according to Councilor Larry Pritchett.

According to Peter Orne, business manager for RSU 13, that $1.7 million was reflected, but now the remaining municipalities have to cover the void in subsidies left by St. George’s withdrawal in order to maintain administrative costs to the district as a whole. revenue from the state has also decreased.

Rockland‘s state subsidy for education has been cut almost in half, according to Orne. “The state made an environment towards consolidation, and yet, took money away.”

Though state statute requires Maine to give 55 percent in subsidies, only 49 percent is being given.

“State revenue is down 12 percent for the city, and that incudes excise tax. That is almost a million dollars. School portion of the tax levy is 54 percent school and 41 percent city,” City Manager James Chaousis II said.

Mayor Frank Isganitis said, “It drives home the fact that we need take charge of our own destiny.”

According to Isganitis, residents in Rockland are getting desperate. He referred to a retired couple “who are paying more in the monthly tax club than what their mortgage was when they bought their house....Now they’re crippled with a $500 tax bill each month and no mortgage.”

Councilor Larry Pritchett heard from bankers and realtors this week who said that an increase of eight percent in taxes is “enough of a change to force somebody to foreclosure.”

Councilor Valli Geiger told the school board: “As you said earlier, costs are out of whack with our school system, but our outcomes are drastically out of whack. There’s a sense that we are paying, but we are not getting results for that kind of money....I don’t hold you accountable for that. It pre-dates you by far. It sounds like you have some great programs that I really applaud. The three programs you’re putting into place....And yet, we have a huge dropout rate, a very large teen pregnancy rate. Our kids aren’t doing well.”

The new programs being implemented in the next year to counter some of these problems are a pre-Kindergarten program funded by grant money. According to Superintendent John McDonald, three pre-K classes will be put in place next year, followed by two more classes in future years.

The district aims to improve its gifted and talented program, as well as add a second gifted and talented teacher, whose salary will be reimbursed, according to McDonald.

The South School in Rockland has at least 260 students, plus one principal. “There are a lot of needs in that school,” McDonald said. Board members are looking to add an assistant principal to the South School staff. The school is also implementing a Responsive Classroom program to train staff in dealing with the emotional needs of students.

Next year, Oceanside High School East aims to start a fisherman’s academy. “The goal is to engage students who might otherwise leave school and go into either the fishing industry or the marine industry, without receiving a diploma, to get them engaged and to reduce our dropout rate,” said McDonald.

Councilor Will Clayton asked what the increase to the school budget is, after eliminating St. George and the reduction is state aid.

The answer, according to Orne, is $1 million. $90,000 in teacher contracts, the gifted and talented teacher, $80,000 for the assistant principal and $25,000 for the Responsive Classroom program. Orne also said that other positions have been eliminated due to volunteer and retirement circumstances, and a custodial position has been added. Salary raises also make up a big portion of that $1 million.

McDonald said, “I will use every single dollar to move the system forward. I’m all about bringing in programs that are proven programs that work, and about staff development that is effective....I’m not finance oriented by nature. I’m curriculum oriented by nature....I guarantee you that I’m going to spend that money to move the system forward.....Good schools make for good communities.”

According to McDonald, the RSU school board has publicized and held seven workshops in regards to the budget. One or two members of the public have attended each meeting. No one stood up and spoke.

Thursday, May 21, the board will finalize its budget before it goes before voters on June 9. See details about the RSU 13 budget adoption finalization meeting.

See our previous article Rockland’s city manager introduces $21.6 million budget.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com.