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LIVERMORE FALLS — Residents of Regional School Unit 73 will see a budget increase next year if they want to maintain the current level of services, Superintendent Kenneth Healey told school directors Thursday.

“People need to understand if we want to maintain the educational base we have right now and the services we have now, it’s going to be an increase,” he said.

A review of this year’s budget shows expenses underbudget by approximately $249,000, and the school district taking in about $152,000 more.

Board member Shari Ouellette noted that RSU 73 will have $395,813 less than originally projected as a holdover going into next year’s budget.

Payroll and benefits were underbudgeted by approximately $200,000. Regular instruction and tuition from Fayette students was about $41,500 less than projected.

School board Chairperson Denise Rodzen noted that the tuition drop was due to some Fayette students moving into the RSU 73 towns of Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls. Fayette is not part of RSU 73, so families of its middle and high school students pay tuition to attend RSU 73 schools.

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Facilities and Transportation Director Ken Vining urged the board to accept the $85,000 bid from Jean Castonguay Logging & Excavation to plow around the district’s schools and Superintendent’s Office this winter.

“I’d like you to accept this bid for this year so we can move on with it,” he said. “If we don’t, we’re going to be searching real hard for someone.”

The board accepted the bid 8-4-1.

Healey said he discussed having the town of Livermore Falls accept the former Livermore Falls Middle School in a meeting with selectmen Tuesday. The matter was tabled until the next selectmen meeting Oct. 4, so the board could look into how much it would cost the town to maintain the building.

Rodzen said that one of the selectmen had a family member who expressed an interest in buying it, but still voted with the other board members. She said it was a conflict of interest and that selectperson should have recused themself.

Special Services Director Tina Collins gave a demonstration of how teletherapy works for students needing help with speech. On a computer screen, therapist Laura Connor talked with the board members on how her sessions with RSU 73 students worked using the computer to communicate.

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“I had a full week where I saw almost every student this week. It was outstanding,” Connor said.

She showed how Mad Libs were used in a variety of forms to make speaking and reading fun.

“They really like it,” Collins said. “Little kids will do screen hugs with the therapist.”

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“People need to understand if we want to maintain the educational base we have right now and the services we have now, it’s going to be an increase.” — RSU 73 Superintendent Kenneth Healey

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