Edgecomb residents are likely to see a hefty increase in the next year’s school budget. The school committee is recommending a $3,172,191 budget which reflects a 10.9 percent increase. Edgecomb school officials explained their proposed FY20 school spending plan on Feb. 13 to the budget committee. The school committee cited substantial cost increases in regular and special education and tuition, which account for $212,134 of the proposed $303,020 increase.

“We have more students receiving special need services. We had three kids move into town after the school year started and expect more to move in next year,” said Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Keith Laser. “One to two students can quickly put you in a $40,000 to $80,000 hole.”

For the past two years, Edgecomb Eddy School has recruited new students and enrollment has risen. The school now has a record 92 students thanks to a new pre-kindergarten program which added 15 more students. The school has an agreement with Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit (SVRSU) 12 towns Alna and Westport Island to accept their pre-kindergarten students. Laser reported one SVRSU 12 family with two special needs students already enrolled in the pre-kindergarten is planning on moving to Davis Island. Another resident told school officials she is in the process of adopting two special needs children who would attend school in grades 7-12.

In regular education, the proposed pre-kindergarten instruction program and kindergarten through grade 2 are both slated for spending reductions. Pre-kindergarten is down by 8.5 percent. Edgecomb Eddy Principal Ira Michaud proposed spending $105,983 which is a $9,952 decrease. For kindergarten through grade 2, the proposed decrease is 2 percent or $4,038. Kindergarten through grade 2 proposed spending is $174,842.

But grades 3-6 instruction show a 4 percent increase to $460,959. Middle and high school tuition both would rise significantly. Grade 7-8 tuition is slated for a 10 percent increase or $30,194 to $329,175. Grades 9-12 tuition would rise from $530,379 to $602,318 or a 13.5 percent increase.

The school committee proposed a 20.2 percent special education increase from $504,786 to $606,763. The only other major proposed budget increase is for food services. School officials are proposing an $18,500 school lunch program budget which is a 117 percent increase. This year, the  school spent $8,500 for meals prepared in Boothbay Harbor and served in Edgecomb. Laser reported the $10,000 increase pays for a change in a food service employee’s salary, mileage and benefits. The employee works 4.5 days per week. “Even with the increase it’s still a good deal for Edgecomb,” Laser said.

Despite a proposed double digit budget increase, both school and budget committee officials were upbeat about Edgecomb Eddy's future. They discussed new Governor Janet Mills’ proposed $8 billion, two-year budget which includes $126 million more for public education. Both committees are also optimistic about a grassroots effort led by the town of Fayette to increase state funding for minimum receiving schools like Edgecomb. Fayette officials are leading a lobbying effort called “Raise the Roof," designed to provide all school units with a minimum 15 percent state funding.

Budget Committee Chairman Jack Brennan also believes Edgecomb and other minimum receivers may have a not-so-secret ally in lobbying Mills for increased school funding. He alluded to School Committee Chairman Tom Abello’s recent appointment as one of Mills' senior advisors.

Brennan asked Abello about the “Raise the  Roof” lobbying effort before he knew who the governor’s new advisor was. “I recently asked him about the initiative and he responded we should wait and see what Gov. Mills’ position was,” Brennan said. “Little did we know that this initiative was raising the roof of his own career. It’s nice to see a bright energetic Edgecombite rewarded for his daily work and leadership. We are proud to call Tom, one of our own.”

While increased state education funding is a reason for optimism, there is reason for concern. Committee members are concerned about bus problems. The proposed transportation budget is up only $992 to $99,321. The school has three buses, but only one is considered reliable. The school’s main bus was bought last year. One bus won’t pass inspection and school officials aren’t sure how long the other may last. ”We’re not sure what to do if it doesn’t pass inspection. The AOS doesn’t have a spare bus, and there is a shortage of used buses,” Abello said.

Committee members reported they’d likely tap the undesignated fund for any bus problems in the next fiscal year. The school budget is rolling over $212,000 into the undesignated fund from this year’s budget. The committee is also adding $43,000 from this year’s pre-kindergarten tuition revenue into the fund. Committee members estimated they’d support using $100,000 in undesignated funds to offset the proposed budget increase and use remaining funds for an emergency like buying a reliable used bus.

The Edgecomb Budget Committee meets next at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27 with Fire Chief Roy Potter in the town hall.