EASTON, Maine — The Easton School Committee voted narrowly against a restructuring plan that would have reduced its two principals to one.
About 50 community members turned out for a special meeting Wednesday, during which the committee voted 3-2 to reject the idea.
Strong opposition came from the public and from the two administrators who would have been affected: Laura Hunter, middle-high school principal and special education director, as well as Erin Ireland, elementary principal and curriculum director. It was a tough call, but the district has been overspending and that has to stop, committee members said.
“We spent money that wasn’t in the budget, $150,000 this year. We can’t continue,” Committee Vice Chair Andrew King said. “We’re on the eighth draft of the budget. We can’t do business as usual.”
King reported receiving many emails, messages and phone calls from people regarding the budget process and how the committee operates. Members represent the students, not taxpayers, he said.
The proposed $4.8 million budget is up 10 percent, or $443,955 more than last year’s budget. Proposed revenues are $4.1 million, according to documents provided at the meeting.
Committee member Nikki Guess said she’s spent “countless hours” looking over the budget and trying to find the best way forward.
Some realignment is necessary, but she doesn’t believe going from two principals to one is the answer, she said. She feared the community wouldn’t support the idea and said there should be another way to get the budget where it needs to be.
While consolidation might seem logical, it isn’t just about numbers, Hunter said. Easton has long been considered a special place, small in size but big on opportunities for students. The proposed change would erode that quality.
“Reducing two leadership levels into one will inevitably reduce the support available to teachers, the daily interaction and availability for students and parents, and the ability to effectively coordinate curriculum and special education needs, both of which are legally and academically complex,” Hunter said.
She spoke of growing concern among school staff because of the uncertainty created by the budget process. Some fear they’ll be “the next ones on the chopping block” and are seeking work elsewhere, she said.
Principals are supposed to be notified 90 days in advance of their positions being eliminated, and notice should come by March 1, which didn’t happen, Ireland said, adding that failing to follow those technical rules diminishes trust.
The position uncertainties have created stress and anxiety for staff, who are trying to stay positive for students, she said. She urged the committee members to decide quickly for transparency’s sake.
“Should the school committee vote to approve the pre-K through 12 principal position tonight, I urge you to act swiftly to begin the hiring process. Everyone deserves to finish this school year with clarity, knowing who will lead them and our students into the future.”
The school directors are naive to think having one principal for two buildings can work, resident Josie Hawkins said. She wondered how it would save the district money since each principal does two jobs.
Resident Dave Hopkins called the Easton School Department one of the best school systems in the area, and said that success wouldn’t be possible without the presence of a principal in each school.
During the committee vote, Guess’ motion not to restructure the principals received no second. Her second motion, to keep the current administrative structure, passed 3-2.
It’s the second staffing reduction that’s been proposed to slash costs, Superintendent Rick Lyons said after the meeting. Administrators first proposed cutting the full-time music, art and guidance director positions to half-time, which the committee did not endorse.
Lyons, who came on board on Jan. 8, said budget issues have been at the forefront since he arrived. He and administrators have cut materials, supplies and more, but the greatest percentage of expenses is for staff salaries. When revenue is less than spending, expenses have to be cut, he said.
Some areas in which overspending occurred during the past year were field trips, over budget by $15,000; software and technology, over by $40,000; outside cleaning services, over by $63,000; tuition outside the district, over by $45,000; an air system contract, over by $15,000; and an education technology position that was not put in the budget at all, $40,000.
In addition, the draft budget for the coming year has no carryover to augment revenue, Lyons said.
“Because restructuring did not occur tonight, the school committee will now have to hold a special meeting to cut somewhere else,” he said.
The school committee did not set a new meeting date or discuss further plans.
