AUBURN — School spending, especially for special education, was highlighted in a final round of community discussions on the proposed $38.37 million budget that may pose significant tax increases for homeowners.

School Committee members answered questions and attempted to allay fears regarding a proposed budget increase for the next fiscal year.

The increase of $2.4 million, or 6.9 percent, has raised many questions among the public, especially homeowners who are most likely to feel the pinch.

Tuesday evening’s conversation revolved around special education. Defending the $7.5 million price tag for it, committee members explained what has become a difficult process.

Superintendent Katy Grondin described special education law and its evolution since the 1980s. Citing how special-needs students must be placed in the “least restrictive environment,” Grondin said, students have come out of specialized classrooms and into the mainstream.

“In the old days, we didn’t see them,” Grondin explained, referring the old era of grouping special-needs students together.

Individualized Education Plans were described as the personalized document governing how each student with special needs will achieve their educational goals, often with the help of an education technician.

“Are education technicians mandated?” resident Thomas Shields asked.

Grondin said education technicians are the helping hands to special needs students in the classroom. An extension of the special education teacher, ed techs work one-on-one or with small groups of students who may not be suited for group instruction.

When asked how many education technicians were working in the schools, Tom Kendall said there were currently 120 technicians and 50 teachers serving a special needs population of 600.

Kendall said some of Auburn’s special-needs students do not attend public schools due to their level of need. 

According to Grondin, some attend special schools such as the Margaret Murphy Center for Children or Spurwink at a cost of $35,000 to $50,000 per student. 

Grondin said the common misconception is that parents have to move to Auburn or Lewiston for their children to have access to specialized education.

City Counselor Tizz Crowley added that she has a grandniece who was diagnosed with autism and placed in the Margaret Murphy Center for Children.

She spoke of her grandniece’s “good fortune of getting into Margaret Murphy,” describing what she called “amazing progress.”

“In one school year,” Crowley said, “she is going to start (school) without any aid. Margaret Murphy has saved a lot of families.”

Still, some residents are nervous about the size of the bill the School Committee has put before the voters.

Fearing a possible tax hike, resident Vicki Ward said, “We’re going to stagnate,” adding, “It’s very scary to see — I see a lot of houses for sale.”

A vote on the budget is set for June 11. Absentee ballots are available at City Hall or from the city website.

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