Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
RSU 52 board votes to add high-school social studies teacher as budget work session continues
Summary
During a budget work session the RSU 52 board approved adding a Liberty Area High School social studies teacher at an estimated $72,700 (vote recorded 7–2), tabled discussion of two EdTech positions, and reviewed carryover and insurance timing that will affect the FY27 budget.
The RSU 52/MSAD 52 school board continued a budget work session and took several decisions on its revisit list, approving one new staff position, tabling others and discussing how carryover and pending insurance figures will affect the FY27 budget.
On a revisit-list motion, the board voted to add a Liberty Area High School social studies teacher at an estimated cost of $72,700. The chair put the motion on the floor; it was seconded and carried with a recorded vote of 7–2. Board members debated whether the hire should be tied to a separate deduction so it would net out of the budget and discussed mechanisms for funding positions during the school year, including drawing from a teaching reserve or from carryover funds.
The administration reported a projected leftover (carryover) of roughly $1.2–$1.6 million based on current spending and open purchase orders and said that $600,000 was currently shown as carryover in the revenue line. Administration explained options for using leftover funds: increasing carryover to reduce next year's budget impact, creating reserve funds, purchasing land, or designating specific funds for maintenance projects.
The board also considered two EdTech positions (EdTech 2 and EdTech 3), listed at an estimated combined cost of $116,595. Administration asked for the item to be tabled to the next meeting so the board could assess the final insurance numbers and other reductions; a motion to table the positions to the next meeting was seconded and carried.
Administration noted some technology-line pressures: Chromebook prices had increased by roughly $77 per device and K'2 technology budgets had been reduced by $36,000 over three years; the administration did not recommend further hardware reductions because many instructional resources and assessments now assume student device access.
Board members were reminded that final insurance figures, expected soon, could materially affect the draft budget; the board set a goal of reducing the budget before the next meeting if possible.
