Staff Writer
HODGDON — The first budget for the newly formed AOS 48 school district will be voted on Monday, April 25, at 7 p.m. at First Settlers Lodge in Weston.
At that meeting, residents will be asked to vote by a show of hands on a $472,700 central office budget for SAD 70 (Hodgdon), SAD 14 (Danforth), Bancroft and Orient. Residents may decrease items on the budget, but cannot add to the bottom line total.
The budget is broken down in the following manner: SAD 70 (79 percent), SAD 14 (17 percent), Orient (3 percent) and Bancroft (1 percent).
According to SAD 70 Superintendent Bob McDaniel, the budget features a slight savings to all four member districts of the AOS. SAD 14 should see the largest savings in the consolidation as the budget is projected to save the district $16,099 based on its current central office figures. Bancroft will save roughly $15,403, while Orient should save $8,241 and SAD 70, $2,139.
“The intent of the plan was to bring everyone in for the first two years and evaluate where future savings could take place,” McDaniel said. “Job descriptions will probably change somewhat, because we will have to shift some things around. We just won’t know until we get into it.”
Once the budget is approved, the focus will then shift to selecting a new superintendent for the AOS. McDaniel has expressed his interest in the position, while SAD 14 Superintendent Richard Cote, who works part-time for his district, has stated he was not interested in the full-time position.
The proposed budget includes a salary of $95,000 for the new superintendent.
