Wiscasset school officials were optimistic Monday they will need no more from the town’s taxpayers than last year. The school committee’s two-hour review of a first draft found errors officials said they would fix before the next workshop at 4 p.m. Monday, April 27.

So far, the local cost for 2020-21 was projected at $141,899 more than 2019-20, according to the workshop, carried on Zoom. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Terry Wood told members, carryover funds and money saved on transportation due to this spring’s remote learning should offset the increase. “We want to come  in flat ... correct?”

“Yes,” Chair Michael Dunn said.

“We feel very strongly we can,” Wood said.

The first draft’s total budget was $6,141,898, Wood said. Nearly $600,000 is the local cost, before the offset that should cover the increase, Wood said.

Most of the committee was in-person with Wood in the meeting room and observing the six-foot social distancing precaution. Wood said the meeting was on Zoom because, under the pandemic precautions, fewer than 10 people can gather. Member Indriani Demers and Wiscasset Newspaper were among the virtual attendees. 

The material being reviewed was not shared onscreen. It will be, during next Monday’s workshop, now that the committee has seen it, Wood said. According to the audible portions of the discussion, officials were trying to get the first budget area visible onscreen, then decided not to show the material during the workshop.

“It’s OK, because we’re not going to share it,” Wood told Administrative Assistant Stacey Souza, who was doing technical work for the meeting.

“The draft is still a work in progress. It’s not at a point yet we actually are going to distribute the paperwork ...,” Dunn said. About an hour into the workshop, Demers said: “Is there anybody who can send me a copy electronically, please? I don’t have the budget ... Or can somebody put it up on the screen? ... I don’t have anything here. I don’t know what you guys are talking about.”

“We can’t put it up on the screen yet because it’s still a draft, so we’re not sharing the actual document,” Dunn said. 

Demers said: “But I’m not going to own it. On the screen, when you take it off, I don’t have it anymore.”

Wood responded: “There’s other people  on the screen. There’s other people watching right now.” After some partly inaudible portions, Souza told Demers to check her email. Responding to Wiscasset Newspaper’s email request for the materials, Dunn wrote that Souza would forward the reviewed materials in the morning.

When officials later noted next week’s workshop will share the documents onscreen, Demers said, “That’s great, because I tried to use two computers and the phone and I can’t keep going flipping back and forth. So if I can see it on the screen it would be easier. Thank you.”

In Tuesday’s email providing the first draft, Souza noted: “Please keep in mind that this is a working document and a first read only. Last night's workshop was the first review for the entire School Committee.”

The first draft listed regular instruction at $4,004,809, up $523,140; special education $2,186,675, down $4,158; total other instruction $230,392, up $904; student and staff support, $657,075, down $39,373; school administration, $536,800, up $33,546; system administration, $505,378, up $10,587; debt service, $30,762, up $762; maintenance/operations, $1,253,879, up $52,485; and transportation and buses, $552,445, up $26,521.