Talking School Costs Talking school costs at the playground. Wiscasset Selectmen Nicole Viele, third from left, at the end of the table, asked that Friday's meeting be held at the Primary School playground so that her children could play on the equipment. (Photo Charlotte Boynton)

Wiscasset taxpayers aren't subsidizing the cost of tuition students, Wiscasset Superintendent of Schools Jay McIntire said last week.

The issue was raised at a meeting Friday, June 27 to set a date for the next open town meeting on the school budget. The meeting will be Monday, July 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the middle school gym. The school budget has been defeated twice.

Budget Committee chairman Steve Mehrl asked the question because the cost of educating Wiscasset students is $13,000 per student, while tuition students are paying about $9,000.

School Committee Chairman Gene Stover said, "Tuition students are a revenue to the school budget."

McIntire explained that the $13,000 per student cost includes transportation, special education, and administration. The tuition towns pay for their own student transportation, administration and special education, in addition to the $9,000 plus.

"No, Wiscasset doesn't subsidize tuition students," McIntire said.

"This is information the public needs to know," Mehrl said.

McIntire indicated he and the school committee would do their best to get the information out at the town meeting. Mehrl told McIntire there is a need for better communications from the school committee in the future.

McIntire was asked by budget committee member Richard Hansen if the school committee is going to come back with a reduced budget. McIntire said he could not answer that because it would be up to the school board.

"I will present them (the school committee) with a laundry list of potential reductions. It will be up to them what reductions are adopted," he said.

Former budget committee member Dick Grondin asked if the school budget is not approved again, what budget will be used until a budget is approved. McIntire said it would be the last budget approved by the school committee. However, his answer was questioned by some at the meeting, who said it would be the last budget approved by the taxpayers.

"We will find that out," McIntire said, "and we will comply with what ever the law says should the budget fail again."

According to a memo from Commissioner Susan Gendron on the budget approval process for 2008-2009, dated May 1, 2008, "On and after July 18, 2008, the last budget approved by the legislative body [voters/taxpayers] becomes the operational budget until such time as the voters approve a budget at referendum. In a SAD, CSD, or RSU, this means the last budget approved by the district, or regional budget meeting. In a municipal system, it means the last budget approved by the town meeting or city/town council."

The first school budget vote failed with 239 opposed and 185 in favor, a difference of 54 votes. It was defeated again on June 17, with 322 opposed and 242 in favor, a difference of 80 votes.

Hansen asked about the possibility of closing more than just one school (the town is presently considering closing the middle school), asking what the savings would be if the high school was also closed, and the town paid to tuition students to other high schools in the area.

McIntire said this is a problem for the proposed Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit (RSU) because Wiscasset High School is the only high school in the RSU.

"We need to close one school," McIntire said. "The town is in a bad position. It costs too much to close it, and too much to keep it open," a reference to the modifications that must be made to the remaining two schools if one is closed.

Town Clerk Sandra Johnson also attended Friday's meeting to explain the requirements, under the state's school consolidation law, of the process and the time frame necessary for the ballot vote on July 22. A vote on three other budgets will also be held on July 22. Town Manager Arthur Faucher told the group that selectmen planned to meet Tuesday, July 1, with members of the budget committee to talk about other spending items (parks and recreation, airport repairs, and a new police cruiser) that were turned down by voters on Election Day, June 10. On Tuesday, July 8, the selectmen will hold a regular meeting, which will be followed by a public hearing on these budgets.