In FY the District Faced a $2.6 Million Dollar Reduction  SUMMARY OF REDUCTIONS  36.5 staff positions (5+%)  Elementary foreign language  Gifted & Talented services cut in half  Freshmen sports and after school activity busing  Staff development days  Three administrative positions (2.5 principals and an assistant special education director)  Deferred facilities maintenance  Deferred bus purchases  50% reduction in allocations for instructional materials  5 th and 6 th grade students have been transferred to larger schools from their hometown schools  And much more

Budget Gap Budgeted Projected FY 11 FY 12 INC (DEC) Carry Over $500,000 $1,108,000 $608,000 State EPS Allocation $16,547,291 $16,420,894 $(126,397) Federal BSFS $1,255,108 $(1,255,108) Federal Jobs Bill $791,263 Other $666,650 $301,650 $(365,000) Town Assessments $15,254,073 $- Total $34,223,122 $33,875,880 $(347,242) -1.01% Projected Increase Salaries & Benefits$783,298 Projected Increase All Others$207,888 Loss of IDEA ARRA Funds$200,000 Budget Gap-$1,538,428

Budget Gap Town Assessments0.00%3.00%5.00% $15,254,073$15,711,695$16,016,777 Increase $- $457,622 $762,704 Adjusted Budget Gap $(1,538,428) $(1,080,806) $(775,724)

 We operate separate runs for elementary, and middle school/high school students  There are 57 bus runs (30 elementary & 27 ms/hs)  We average 777,000 miles per year – including trips  Maine state funding formula only supports single tier bus runs – the second run is entirely funded by the local taxpayers

 Transport all students, pre-Kindergarten through high school, on a single run to reduce the hours and miles our buses travel  There will be approximately 34 bus runs  We will average 527,000 miles  State will fully participate in funding a single tier bus route systems

 Fewer annual miles on buses – buses will last longer before needing to be replaced  Potential to reduce hours for bus maintenance  MS HS students will not have to get on the bus so early in the morning  One bus schedule will be easier for parents with children at both the elementary and the MS/HS level

 Need for additional drivers  Concerns from parents regarding having very young children on buses with older students  Concerns about loss of hours for a significant number of employees (drivers and potentially mechanics)  Longer ride times for some MS/HS students

 Students may be assigned to new routes  34 routes vs. 57 routes two tier  Ride times for students  Elementary students approximately 45 minutes to an hour  MS/HS students 15 minutes longer than elementary  Additional drivers needed  May be addressed with reassignment of existing personnel

 Principals and drivers will need to refine expectations and discipline procedures for all buses  Seating may be clustered or assigned  Additional training and support will be provided as necessary

 SAD #44 began single tier busing in 2005  SAD #44 students are grouped by age on the bus  Inappropriate behavior and language are not issues  Drivers are trained to deal with different aged students and are given guidelines for progressive discipline  Some buses, but not all, are equipped with cameras

 SAD #54 began single tier busing this school year  Some parents were initially concerned about having high school aged students on the buses with younger students, but are now supportive  Inappropriate behavior and language are not issues  Many drivers did have their hours reduced. Some are now working in two capacities (ie., bus driver and part time custodian)

 Winthrop school department  There has not been an increase of discipline issues on the buses  There has been significant savings and reduced maintenance and wear-and-tear on the buses  Clarifying behavioral expectations through training improved student conduct

 MSAD #54 – Skowhegan  RSU #10 – Rumford  Monmouth School Department  Winthrop School Department  SAD #44 – Bethel  SAD #36 - Livermore Falls  RSU #38 - Maranacook  And others

Potential Savings - One Bus Run Current PotentialSavings Salary and Benefits $1,167,000 $881,757 $285,243 Diesel * $200,000 $137,500 $62, ,000 fewer miles Repair & Maintenance$30,000.00$25,000.00$7, Parts/Supplies$125,000.00$93,750.00$31, Tires$25,000.00$18,750.00$6, % less on above expenditures Total $1,547,000 $1,156,757 $392,743

For Comparison Purposes ONLY  $400,000 is the equivalent of:  9 teaching positions  Or 80% of all athletic programming  Or 50% of art, music and physical education  Or The staffing and program costs of Hebron Station School, or Otisfield, or Waterford, or West Paris elementary schools

 Create a significant and on-going savings  All schools will have a similar start time  Maintain instructional time  All students will be transported in a reasonable amount of time  All students will be transported safely

 Meet with stakeholder groups  Continue to survey school districts regarding one tier, two tier bus routes  Investigate co-curricular and extra curricular impact  Finalize cost estimates  Make recommendations for FY 2012 budget

Questions?