FARMINGTON – The school board unanimously passed a $22.12 million budget Thursday evening, after receiving some good news regarding a difficult reduction.
The music department’s supply budget, which includes money for repairs and attending events, competitions and concerts, had been reduced by $27,000, leaving $7,000 in assorted accounts, as part of $1.5 million in reductions designed to compensate for large reductions in state subsidy.
Franklin Savings Bank announced that it would be donating up to $10,000 to the program, in the form of a challenge grant which will match money donated from elsewhere in the community. Each dollar donated to the music department will be matched by Franklin Savings. The first two checks, submitted to the school board that evening, were written by Rep. Tom Saviello (R – Wilton) and Director Paul Druan, of Weld. Druan had spoken up at Tuesday’s meeting, noting that 140 people donating $50 each would cover the department’s $7,000 instrument repair account.
School Board Chair Ray Glass, of Farmington, announced the donation at the beginning of the meeting, calling the news “uplifting” after days of wrestling with an extremely difficult budget.
“It’s wonderful support for our entire community,” Glass said, “especially the music department.”
“By making our gift a challenge grant, we can potentially bring in $20,000 to the program,” Peter Judkins, president and CEO of Franklin Savings Bank said, as part of a prepared statement. “I’m hopeful that knowing that their donation is essentially doubled by the matching grant will encourage others to donate to save this program.”
That money will offset most of the supply budget cuts for the music department. Superintendent Michael Cormier also identified the $26,000 needed to cover the Strings teaching position, which was reinstated by the board Tuesday. Those funds will come out of Special Education tutor wages and a tuition line, as well as an Advanced Placement tuition account. Cormier said that some grant funding and federal money typically covered some of those expenses.
The budget process has reduced the originally-proposed adjustments to the music department, more than $115,000 in cuts. Directors repeatedly cited the large amount of feedback they received regarding the music department in making the decision.
“This is one of the finest music programs in the state,” Judkins said, as part of the statement. “It distinguishes MRSD 9 from any other districts in Maine. Beginning in the third grade, our students receive an exposure to classical music and experience with a stringed instrument that they just wouldn’
t otherwise get.”
After the announcement, the board moved swiftly through the remaining adjustments. Freshman football, which is partially supported through $1,890 in fee reimbursements and transportation funding, and freshman basketball, supported with $1,807, will receive no district funding in the budget. Coach Gary Parlin, when asked if that money could be generated through fundraising, said he would “do everything in my power to have freshman football.”
“If a kid can’t play football at the high school level,” he noted, “he can’t play it anywhere else.”
The budget was passed by the board at $22,118,696, a 6.5 percent decrease from the previous year. The budget does represent a $184,000 increase in the local assessment. The board will meet on April 27 to sign warrants, aiming to have the district-wide budget meeting on May 11 and the referendum vote on May 18.
After some debate, directors agreed that the district should pay for half of the costs relating the special referendum, with local towns picking up the other fifty percent.
After the vote, Cormier announced that Assistant Superintendent Susan Pratt had accepted a position with MSAD 36 as superintendent. Board members congratulated Pratt, who couldn’t attend the meeting, on obtaining the position. According to Cormier, she will be leaving Mt. Blue Regional School District at the end of June.
Great news! Judkins and Franklin Savings Bank is an excellent community supporter.
On behalf of the entire music department and all the young student musicians in our school district, we thank Mr. Peter Judkins and the Franklin Savings Bank for this very generous donation to support the music program. We also thank Mr. Druan and Mr. Saviello for beginning the matching fund challenge. To the larger Mt. Blue Regional School District community and board of directors who overwhelming supported the music program during this difficult budget process, our promise to you all is to continue to bring the very best music education to all the students in our schools.
Wow!!! What a fantastic community we live in! Thank you Franklin Savings Bank!!