From avoiding layoffs to getting the phone system up to par, the decisions for how to propose Wiscasset taxpayers spend next year’s education dollars will be made in the coming months. Based on the School Committee’s budget talks Nov. 19, the panel appears focused on serving students, but with some differing views on the details of how to do it.

Upgrading the department’s phone system that does not transfer calls is part of laying the foundation, committee member Glen Craig said. “I think the phone system is a very important thing ... I can talk to 18,000 people all at the same time all on one phone, in my business ... Communication is huge. You’ve got to be able to communicate to be able to facilitate.”

Replacing the system could cost $30,000 to $50,000, Committee Chairman Steve Smith said. Superintendent of Schools Heather Wilmot said she would have to assess further before she could project a cost.

Wilmot called the inability to transfer calls a safety concern, and an important issue to address.

Whatever the figure turns out to be, the committee will need to decide between funding that and something else, for example, laptops for high school seniors, Smith said. “You’re going to make hard choices. So if we as a board know where our priorities are going to be, it will be much easier for Dr. Wilmot to put together a budget ... because obviously we can’t have all these things.

“The hard part about it is, all of this is important,” Smith said about the different costs that can comprise a school budget. “So it’s really tough. No one’s going to say, ‘Yeah, forget about up-to-date technology.’”

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming is a real priority for him because it will help keep students, Smith said. “And after that, I would think facilities would be very important.”

People talk about the need to attract students to Wiscasset, but, with this year’s large student counts for the youngest grades, the town also needs to make sure it keeps the students who start their school years in Wiscasset, Smith said.

Craig agreed the buildings need to be a priority. “We have a responsibility for our walls ... to be maintained,” he said.

Member Chelsea Haggett said she had a student-centered view of the budget. Buildings impact students, but she would be reluctant to spend a bunch of money on a phone system if that would mean hurting programs, she said.

“I personally feel like we can’t cut really any positions this year. I don’t think we can do that without hurting programming,” Haggett said.

Vice Chairman Eugene Stover supported the comment. “You’re stealing my thunder,” he said.

Later in the discussion, Stover said quality of education is a higher priority for him than spending on facilities. Part of the quality of education is the teachers, he said.

“I’ve always thought that we had a very knowledgeable group of teachers here that the kids trusted and the results were very good. I am of the opinion that we put our money into educating our youngsters first, and what’s left over, we will do what we can (with).”

More playground equipment that Wiscasset Elementary School’s younger students can use is a major priority, Haggett said. She would also like either equipment or some means to have organized games for seventh and eighth graders’ recess at Wiscasset Middle High School, she added.

Member Michael Dunn wanted to learn what teachers’ and administrators’ most urgent concerns are, especially items that impact learning and students’ day-to-day experience in the schools, he said.

“Those are the things we should be looking at. Anything that is not our normal budget stuff should be brought to our attention,” Dunn said.

At the close of the discussion, Smith remarked on the general consistency he was seeing in committee members’ priorities. “I’m not hearing much disagreement,” he said.

Voters decide the next school budget in the spring.