MSAD 15 Board begins plowing through budget
By Elizabeth Prata Salvetti

The MSAD 15 School Board discussed the merits of funding the High School Community Resource Officer position at their March 20 meeting. The position was one of several items up for discussion during the budget deliberations portion of the agenda. The budget is up 4.72% over last year, totaling $16,376,567. Gray’s estimated education mil rate would be 15.53, with New Gloucester’s estimated at 13.76. The tax impact would be a 4.65% increase for Gray and 6.73% increase for New Gloucester.

The Community Resource Officer’s position, currently filled by Officer Regan Goan, has been funded for the past two years by a Federal grant. The grant is ending, and the Board queried High School Principal Scott Lydick on the results of having an officer in the schools for the past two years before deciding whether or not to include it as a salaried position at $44,000 (figure includes all contract obligations, inlcuding the Sheriff auto.)

Lydick said, "Drug traffic is down, due to Officer Goan’s presence." He explained that having a Cumberland County Officer’s car in the lot is a deterrent, and the visible presence of a fully uniformed officer in the school is another deterrent. He also said that there are distinct protocols involved when an incident occurs, and the fact that they can be handled by a trained police officer helps the Principal and Vice-Principal complete tasks within the scope of their own duties. "Otherwise, it would fall to us, and there are only so many pieces of the pie." Officer Goan is an important part of the team," Lydick said.

In addition, Goan provides traffic control at the Libby Hill Road-Route 26 intersection, managing an estimated 2,400 vehicles during the 20 minutes’ critical time when the High School and Middle School are loading busses and private vehicles. He also mediates with students on harassment and conflict issues, transports disorderly students from school, offers valuable tactical strategy and training for crisis and operational procedures. The Board made no decisions, but a straw poll of the Board indicated majority support to fund the position.

The Superintendent said that the District had been notified by the Attorney General that he has approved the District’s claim to be able to lease the Pennell Lab building. Formerly occupied by a local publication at a rent of $10 per year, it has remained vacant since the publication moved to an office in New Gloucester owned by Gray Councilor Richard Barter. Pennell Lab is currently available to rent, according to Brian McDonnell, Director of Finance and Operations. Interested short or long-term tenants should contact the Superintendent’s office at 657-3335.

Also, the District is completing the training of Administrators in the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Strategies. Wood also reported that the District has held two video presentations of the Memorial-Russell video with civic groups, and has scheduled several more presentations. The video presents information concerning the state of disrepair of the two elementary schools. The District has applied to the State for funding to renovate both schools. If awarded, the State would fund the projects at 100% of the total cost.

The Board will present the budget to the New Gloucester Board of Selectmen on Monday, April 1, and the Gray Council on Tuesday, April 2. They will discuss the budget at their own Board meeting on April 3. Any interested citizen is encouraged to attend any or all of the meetings, which will also be televised on local cable channels 2 and 3.