TOPSHAM

School Administrative District 75 school board members got a run down of possible Fiscal Year 2018 budget issues last week that includes many unknown factors.

Superintendent Brad Smith said 78 percent of the budget goes directly to salary and benefit costs. Two of the district’s four employee groups have already negotiated salary increases to the tune of $310,251. The district has budgeted a total of $502,199 for salary increases.

“We don’t know what will happen with health insurance costs,” Smith said.

The district typically hears mid-March. The district budgeted for an 8 percent increase — or $457,615 — for a total of $6.1 million.

The Maine Department of Education has advised districts of an 18 percent increase in teacher retirement costs — a $137,281 increase for SAD 75 for a total of $719,499.

SAD 75 also faces an additional $50,400 bill to fund its share of a $140,000 roof repair needed at Region Ten Technical High School in Brunswick.

The big unknown, Smith said, is the state subsidy the district will get. While the district already had an initial projection by this time last year, Smith said this year initial allocations aren’t expected until March.

Smith said Gov. Paul LePage is proposing to remove system administration from the Essential Programs and Services funding formula, which he said funds the district office to the tune of $1 million in SAD 75.

Special education costs are expected to keep increasing. The district must also look for opportunities for students who need more learning opportunities, at addressing mental health issues, and continue working toward proficiency based education and teacher and administrator evaluation.

Topsham resident Douglas Bennett spoke about his experience as a parent of an eighth-grader in the district during last week’s meeting.

“I believe all parents should be able to know the answers to at least these two questions: One — What is the current curriculum through which my son or daughter is learning? And two — How is my son or daughter doing at learning what he or she is expected to learn?” Bennett said.

Bennett said although he’s mastered the online tools and talked to teachers and school officials, “I do not know the answer to either of those two questions, and that is why I am here speaking to you today. I am here to ask you to ensure that parents can have answers to those questions.”

The school board and audience also recognized bus driver Art Black, who used his CPR training to save a fellow bus driver on Jan. 12 who was choking. SAD 75 Transportation Director Adam Mayo has started instructing bus drivers in CPR and AED use.

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