Directors approve SAD 1 calendar
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – SAD 1 directors voted unanimously last Wednesday to approve the 2010-11 school calendar which leaves the three-week potato harvest recess intact for high-schoolers.
“Based on input and reaction we received from staff and community members, two initial draft proposals to have one bussing schedule – one of which included keeping the full harvest and one which shortened the harvest recess from 25 days to 19 days – were put aside,” said SAD 1 Superintendent Gehrig Johnson.
The newly-approved calendar includes minor changes pertaining to in-service days and extends summer vacation slightly by shortening the Thanksgiving break by two days.
Directors also received a brief overview of the 2010-11 budget calendar.
Budget workshops have been scheduled for April 7, April 14 and April 15, if needed. The district budget meeting will be held May 12, while the budget validation referendum is scheduled for May 18.
With a loss of about $560,000 in state aid, the district is forced to make significant reductions in programs and personnel.
Positions to be eliminated include one computer teacher at Presque Isle Middle School, one district-wide art teacher, one English position at Presque Isle High School, and one teacher and one education technician at the alternative school.
Also cut would be one tutorial position at PIMS, four education technicians at the SAD 1 Childcare Center, one education technician position at the technology department, two part-time custodians, and one social worker position, which would instead be funded for one year through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Other stipend position eliminations would include six gifted and talented committee members, four PIMS basketball team coaches, two PIMS cheering team coaches, and three elementary assistants to the principals. There would also be reduced hours for summer farm employees, and “general belt tightening in every department.”
“These reductions will result in an unprecedented situation where a budget for 2010-11 is less than the SAD 1 budget back in 2007,” said Johnson. Additionally, the district has eliminated $250,000 in administrative costs since 2008.
“We’re about a month early in terms of going through the budget process,” said Johnson. “We have received our revenue numbers from the state and are ready to start the budget process.”
The next regular SAD 1 board meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 14 at the PIHS board conference room.
