RSU 52 officials outline $545,000 in proposed cuts, including world‑language and PE positions

School Administrative District No. 52 administrators presented a revised FY26 budget proposal on March 13 that trims $545,000 from an earlier draft and reduces the districtwide budget increase to about 6.6 percent (the local tax increase overall to about 7.58 percent), but includes proposed cuts that would affect curriculum and student services.

The cuts, presented by District staff member Carrie, include eliminating the middle‑school world‑language position, reducing elementary physical education from two classes per week to one (a net loss of one PE teacher), reductions to library book budgets and classroom supplies, lower technology purchases, and several staffing adjustments in guidance and educational‑technology roles. Carrie summarized the changes: "What we are gonna be sharing with you represents an overall cut to the budget of $545,000. That brings the total cuts we have made from the initial budget to 1,740,000. That gets the overall budget increase down to 6.6 from 8.08, and it reduces the local increase to an overall of 7.58."

Why this matters: administrators told the board the reductions respond to a goal expressed at the prior meeting to lower the towns’ share below 10 percent and to community affordability concerns. They also warned the cuts will affect day‑to‑day operations and planning: "Now it's gonna impact what's happening on a day to day basis," Carrie said. Board members pressed staff for alternatives and asked for specific lists of non‑instructional cuts that could be implemented without immediate classroom layoffs.

Key proposed program and personnel changes - World language (middle school): The recommended cut would eliminate the middle‑school world‑language teacher and shift that…