FARMINGTON — A language teacher at Mt. Blue Middle School and an educational technician for the special education program were among cuts made in the Regional School Unit 9 budget Thursday night.

World Language Director Lisa Dalrymple advocated for the middle school teacher and spoke regarding extra and co-curricular activities.

As a teacher, she said she sees how sports and music motivates students. They get better grades and learn time management, she said.

Barbara Leopold of Wilton said teachers and administrators directly impact students by providing a nurturing environment and bringing money into the district through grants.

“The district loses money when teachers go elsewhere,” Leopold said.

Christine Shea, director of special education, said long-term substitutes are working in the 16 unfilled educational technician positions. Interviews are underway to fill those positions.

Shea said cutting two of those positions would mean more difficult days for students, less progress, and the district might not comply with requirements.

A motion to cut two special education technicians failed, but later it was voted to eliminate one position. 

The board also voted not to reopen contract negotiations for some administrators. Doing so would have cut $17,000 from the budget. 

Director Betsy Hyde of Temple said reopening negotiations was not the most ethical thing to do, but she was concerned the budget wouldn’t pass if administrative costs weren’t cut.

Superintendent Thomas Ward said if the contracts were reopened, adjustments would need to be made next year. If left as they are, the contracts would remain fairly competitive.

The vote to rescind an earlier vote to reopen contract negotiations passed with a simple majority.

Cuts made to the budget included:

* $48,131, world language teacher at the middle school

* $31,351, guidance 

* $30,000, operations/maintenance contingency

* $25,000, special education contingency

* $25,000, school board contingency

* $25,000, operations/maintenance purchased services (HVAC contract)

* $12,400, special education educational technician

* $10,380, special education social work/speech/occupational therapy

* $5,000, assistant to athletic director

* $5,000, technical liaisons

* $3,603, secondary instruction

* $2,440, superintendent

* $766, director of curriculum/assistant superintendent and business manager

The $224,071 in cuts brings the budget to $32.75 million. It’s $278,653 less than the one voters rejected June 14.

A districtwide budget meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 14, in the Bjorn Auditorium at the Mt. Blue Campus to vote on the budget.

A referendum to validate the amount approved July 14 will be held in each town on Thursday, July 28. Directors allowed more time than usual between the two votes because people on vacation may want to vote by absentee ballot.

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