PARIS — The majority of School Administrative District 17 directors agreed they can’t support a resolution that will give school districts more flexibility to spend “late” general purpose aid for schools.

The resolution is one of four that will be before representatives to the Maine School Board Association conference on Oct. 22.

Under current law, the only option for using general purpose aid for schools that is approved after the budget is ok’d is to carry the money over to the following year. Some districts have used special warrant articles to restore budget cuts within the current fiscal year, but the Legislature questioned the practice. The resolution asks that the Legislature put into statute that the warrant articles are valid to use.

SAD 17 board members questioned spending more than what the taxpayers approved at the annual budget meeting even if additional state aid comes in late.

“It sets a dangerous precedent to spend money taxpayers haven’t approved,” board member Curtis Cole, who will represent the board at the conference, said. “Are we relying on a windfall after the fact?”

Director Joe Vaillancourt, who chairs the Finance Committee, said he opposed the resolution.

“We have an obligation to do what taxpayers approve,” he said.

Other resolutions include one that the Maine Board of School Board Associations opposed: A move to use vouchers to finance all schools, including religious schools. Public funding of religious schools in Maine is constitutionally prohibited.

Proponents said it would provide a broader choice of schools. Director Barry Patrie said the board should vote against the resolution and support keeping money in local schools.

Another resolution asks the state to take more time finding a new vendor for statewide testing. Patrie said no test will work if the benchmark keeps changing.

Board members said they were sympathetic to the state’s problem of funding public employees but could not take on an increase in local funding for the mandated local portion of the costs.

In other news, Superintendent Rick Colpitts reminded the board that the Aspire Higher program kicked off Monday with classroom activities, programs and the Aspire Higher March, which sets off from Oxford Hills Middle School in Paris on Wednesday morning.

The board also approved several appointments, including a bus garage mechanic, and approved a field trip for sixth-graders at Oxford Elementary School.

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