Voters approve
SAD 1 budget, bond referendum
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A number of energy-saving projects will soon be under way in SAD 1 as voters approved a bond referendum last Tuesday allowing officials to spend $2.3 million on repairs and renovations at all five of the district’s school buildings.
In addition, voters also passed a 2013-14 SAD 1 budget of $23,210,149. Both the budget and the bond referendum were approved by a significantly strong margin.
The June 11 budget referendum was approved in four of the district’s five communities. In Presque Isle, the budget was approved 297-144. In Mapleton, the budget was adopted 94-21, Castle Hill passed the budget 23-13, and Chapman approved the budget 28-9. The budget was, however, rejected in Westfield by a vote of 18-9.
The bond referendum was also approved in all communities but Westfield. In Presque Isle, the bond was approved 306-130. In Mapleton, the bond was adopted 97-18, Castle Hill passed the bond 24-11, and Chapman approved the bond 30-7. Westfield narrowly defeated the bond by a vote of 16-11.
In total, 656 people voted on the budget. Of that, 451 (69 percent) voted “yes,” while 205 (31 percent) voted “no.” The bond referendum saw 650 casting a ballot. Of that, 468 (72 percent) voted “yes,” while 182 (28 percent) voted “no.”
“We’re very pleased with the vote and that both the budget and the bond passed by a wide margin,” said Superintendent Gehrig Johnson. “There was, however, a very low turnout of voters. Only a very small slice of the voting population went to the polls. Out of 9,105 eligible voters, only 7 percent voted … only 3 percent voted last year.”
Johnson said that despite the budget being approved, the district will face several financial challenges next year including an almost $500,000 reduction in state aid, an increase of 13 percent in medical insurance premiums generating additional employee benefit costs of $390,000, and a proposed state law requiring local school units to pick up a portion of teacher retirement costs, or about $250,000 for next year.
“In addition, we are confronted with the additional costs of several unfunded mandates from Augusta including the design of new diploma standards; design and implementation of new teacher/principal evaluation systems; Common Core Standards implementation; and the development of the Next Generation Science Standards,” he said.
Also at the polls last week, voters opted to continue with the two-step budget approval process rather than reverting back to a single district-wide budget meeting. The idea of eliminating the two-step process was defeated 360 (55 percent) to 286 (45 percent).
In Presque Isle, the referendum was defeated 244-190. In Castle Hill, the referendum was rejected 21-15, Chapman narrowly defeated the measure 18-16, and Westfield voted to keep the two-step process in tact by a vote of 18-8. Mapleton, however, supported the single budget meeting by a vote of 57-49.
“Every three years this referendum question is placed on the ballot and it continues to fail,” said Johnson. “I’ve talked to superintendents around the state, and most budget validation referendums have failed. Even though a small percentage of voters are participating, that small percentage seems to want a second secret ballot referendum.”
As the school year comes to a close, Johnson said the energy-saving projects will begin immediately. Among the work that will be done includes converting from No. 2 fuel to liquefied petroleum (LP) gas at all five of the district’s buildings (Presque Isle High School, Presque Isle Middle School, and Mapleton, Pine Street and Zippel elementary schools), weather stripping doors and adding insulation at all schools, and an interior and exterior lighting retrofit at all schools.
Bond money will also be used for code compliance, liability/safety and school security projects. The scope of work includes asbestos abatement for boiler replacements at the high school and Pine Street, the replacement of two vertical lifts, fire alarm system upgrades and the replacement of the gymnasium bleachers at PIHS; prep work in the boiler room to replace the boiler at both the high school and Pine Street, replacement of the gym floor and the roof over the auditorium and west wing, and upgrading the generator at the high school; replacing the storage barn roof at PIMS and part of the roof at Zippel, repaving selected areas district-wide, upgrading the classroom telephone system at Mapleton and Zippel; lockdown upgrades for common areas at Mapleton, Pine Street, Zippel and PIMS; and making upgrades to camera systems and installing entry door lockdown systems district-wide.
“The projects are spread out over all five schools, and will move forward pretty much at the same time,” said Johnson. “The plan is to have them completed by the time school starts in the fall with the exception of the high school gymnasium which we’re hoping to have ready for the start of basketball season. The main gym will effectively be closed until the end of November. When school starts in the fall, physical education classes will utilize the upper gymnasium until the main gym is ready.
“Also some of the heating initiatives — like the boiler replacements — won’t be completed until the beginning of heating season, or November,” he said. “That work, however, shouldn’t affect students.”
