The $31.9 million school budget approved by the Regional School Unit 18 board Wednesday night includes the following cuts. The budget goes to a district budget meeting Sept. 20 and a district-wide referendum Oct 2. RSU 18 incudes Belgrade, China, Oakland, Sidney and Rome.

Salary and benefit cuts ($354,223):

$11,000 by eliminating a planned 1-percent raise for bus drivers

$8,000 by restructuring an IT Director position

$57,534 in federally-funded staffing costs that were previously thought to be expiring

$121,205 by relying on actual staffing costs rather than budgeted staffing costs

$15,000 by eliminating a CTE bus run

$19,339 by reducing transportation staff time and eliminating a van driver

$31,500 by reducing the use of substitutes for custodians and other staff, and by reducing the amount of professional development

$60,000 through an across-the-board reduction of $225 in pay per employee for all teachers and administrators

$34,400 by cutting an middle school English position, which will result in “a few” increased class sizes

$12,962 by eliminating stipends for indoor track and robotics at the middle school, as well as robotics supplies

$6,283 in adjustments to stipends for a negotiated amount on a sports coordinator position

 

Other cuts ($272,253):

$8,040 with restrictions of field trips to one per class, must be within 25 miles of school. Its going to help local businesses.

$6,000 eliminating preseason sports trips, and limiting trips to within 25 miles of school.

$78,968 by eliminating all paid conferences, seminars, and workshops

$75,000 in technology equipment reductions

$37,250 by revisiting enrollment projections

$46,000 by reducing assessment work and supplies

$2,000 by reducing on-line learning budget

$8,000 by reducing computer repair and maintenance

$6,956 by reducing phone use

$1,000 by reducing advertising

$3,939 by reducing mileage reimbursement

Total cuts: $626,476