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Board debates restoring BAR program and staffing as it weighs a near-10% budget increase
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Summary
At a budget workshop, administrators and board members debated proposed staffing cuts and restorations — especially at Noble Intermediate School — the cost to restore the BAR program (about $176,500), and whether to fund a districtwide reading program (estimated up to $500,000); follow-up workshops were scheduled to produce refined cost estimates.
The RSU 60/MSAD 60 school board spent its workshop session focused on staffing proposals, program restorations and curriculum priorities as administrators sought direction for a draft-2 budget. Staff said the draft budget as proposed would leave the district roughly 1 teacher down, 1.1 administrators down, add one custodian and add 5.6 education-technology positions (some funded by grants).
Central to the debate was Noble Intermediate School (NIS). Principal Archibald and other administrators outlined multiple staffing models for sixth grade — team structures of varying sizes or an elementary-style homeroom model — and explained how those choices affect PE, health, art and music pullouts and teacher schedules. Concerns centered on losing a PE teacher, a health instructor and behavior-intervention resources that administrators and some board members said have driven improvements in behavior and school climate.
"There is substantial evidence demonstrating a strong correlation between physical activity, balanced nutrition and overall health and wellness," said Mallory Prince, a district physical-education teacher and parent, urging the board to avoid cutting P.E. and health positions. At public comment, Matt Leggett told the board the budget and leadership needed rethinking, saying, "That's just stupid" in the context of spending while cutting other departments.
Cost estimates and priorities: Administrators said restoring the two global blocks and the accompanying positions required to run the BAR program would cost approximately $176,500; staff also discussed a potential districtwide literacy adoption that one administrator estimated could reach about $500,000 for K–8 in a worst-case scenario, with a smaller pilot year costing roughly $100,000. Finance staff said onetime pilot purchases could be covered by the fund balance while recurring costs need sustainable sources.
Board members expressed sharply differing views: some argued the proposed budget (about a 9.8% increase presented to the community) was already lean and resisted further cuts, while others emphasized taxpayer affordability and urged stronger efforts to bring the number down. Several members proposed targeted restorations instead of broad increases, and at least one requested a straw poll to gauge support for restoring BAR and key NIS positions.
Other cost centers discussed included technology renewals (a CAD lab and projector renewals), transportation options such as adding vans to reduce lengthy bus routes, and a proposed replacement snowblower and salt spreader for transportation operations.
What comes next: Staff agreed to prepare a prioritized list of cost centers with ballpark estimates for the next workshops (scheduled Tuesday and Thursday), so the board could refine draft #2 and meet the timeline for a formal budget vote in early April.
