TURNER — SAD 52 directors made adjustments to the track replacement project at Leavitt Area High School on Thursday night.

The projected cost exceeded the $550,705 approved by district voters by more than $45,300.

“We have $550,000-plus approved by the voters and now it’s not going to cover it,” Director Peter Ricker said. He said he was concerned the board was “not giving what we promised the voters.”

“This is an important project and I want it done right,” said Director Robert Allen.

Chairwoman Betsy Bullard expressed her frustration that the project could cost so much more than anticipated, considering the exhaustive research the board performed prior to putting it out for bid.

SAD 52 Business Manager Deborah Roberts proposed that both the loam and seed portion of a bid submitted by Ray Labbe and Sons be eliminated, as well as a lawn maintenance provision to save nearly $53,000. She also suggested looking into a more cost-efficient scoreboard.

The board adopted Roberts’ recommendations and unanimously voted to award Ray Labbe and Sons the contract for just over $464,000.

In other business, Superintendent Kimberly Brandt and the board enthusiastically welcomed Kelly Marston aboard as the Turner Elementary School principal. Marston has a master’s degree in education leadership, a curriculum coordinator certificate and 20 years of teaching experience.

“She stood head and shoulders above everyone else,” said Director Richard Gross, who participated in the hiring process.

Other nominations approved by the board included Melanie North as adult basic education coordinator, Elizabeth Cook as guidance counselor for Leeds Central School, Jordan Hersom as health teacher at Tripp Middle School, and Jennifer Valnais and Linsey Holst as kindergarten teachers for Turner Primary School.

Also:

* The board voted to transfer over $45,000 from one fund to another to offset special education costs, and Director JoAnne Nickerson expressed concern at the consistently rising cost of special education.

Deb Alden, director of special education, told the Sun Journal after the meeting that there are five openings for special education teachers in SAD 52.

* The board approved increasing the four-hour-per-day bus driver position to a six-hour-per-day position, approved the creation of a two-hour bus run for Wednesdays, and a four-hour-per-day van driver position.

The cost of the new jobs was estimated at $20,000, according to Roberts, which will be taken from the $30,000 contingency fund.

“We are only one month into the budget and have only $10,000 left in the fund,” said Ricker, encouraging fiscal caution going forward.