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Resident presses for school‑budget transparency; select board urges dialogue and training
Summary
During public comment a resident and budget‑committee member criticized the school board’s transparency and treatment of budget committee members; select board members encouraged workshops, outreach to Maine School Management Association, and a possible special town meeting to resolve disputed handling of interest and budget timing.
A resident who also serves on the budget committee used the select board’s public‑comment period to sharply criticize the school board’s handling of budget matters and to describe feeling threatened by remarks at a recent town meeting.
The speaker urged greater transparency, suggested a special town meeting to decide how interest on a loan should be used, and recommended the select board and school board pursue independent legal review to clarify options. “It should go to pay off the principal of the loan,” the commenter said when discussing interest; later the speaker added that certain comments directed at committee members felt “threatening.”
Select board members responded by defending the budget committee’s advisory role and by recommending steps to improve communication: encourage the school board to provide budgets earlier in the cycle, consider a workshop between the select board and school committee, and explore training through the Maine School Management Association or similar organizations. Board members emphasized town meeting as the ultimate public forum for contentious budget decisions and urged continued public participation.
No formal action was taken; the exchange was recorded as public comment and discussion. Several board members noted they would work to encourage earlier delivery of school budgets and explore a joint workshop to improve transparency and process.
