MSAD #60
North Berwick, Berwick and Lebanon
MINUTES OF THE DISTRICT BUDGET MEETING OF May 23, 2024
The MSAD 60 school budget meeting took place at Noble High School in North Berwick, Maine beginning at 6:45 pm on May 23, 2024. All board members were present. The press was present as well.
Audra Beauvais, Superintendent of Schools, welcomed the residents. She briefly reviewed the budget and she shared with the audience where the increased expenses were incurred and what the impact of mill rates was, and that the final numbers indicate a 7.48% increase to taxpayers.
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to nominate Geoffrey Day, of Berwick, as moderator. A Lebanon resident made the motion and it was seconded to nominate Robert Travers, of Lebanon, as moderator. A show of hands indicated support of the residents for Geoffrey Day as moderator over Robert Travers.
The Superintendent swore in Mr. Day as moderator.
The moderator noted that he would be making a modification and allowing the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent, non-residents, as well as the administrative team, to speak when responding to direct questions. The Assistant Superintendent will be the recorder of events for the evening.
The Moderator then reviewed the process of the meeting and the rules that would be followed.
Article 1: Regular Instruction
A Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was some discussion and:
Proposed Amendment: Jon Hall of North Berwick made a motion to increase the Regular Instruction budget by $300,000 with the intent to restore a PE and Art teacher at the elementary level as well as a STEAM specialist at the elementary level as well as a foreign language instructor.
Through a show of hands and counting of those hands as accurately as possible:
224 in favor and 67 opposed and the amendment passed.
A North Berwick resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed amended budget. A show of hands showed it to be an overwhelming pass.
Article 2: Special Education
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There were multiple questions asking more specific questions regarding services as well as other questions about article 1. The residents then voted on the article as recommended by the board of directors. It was approved overwhelmingly.
Proposed Amendment: None
Article 3: Career and Technical Education
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. A North Berwick resident asked one question. The article was approved overwhelmingly.
Article 4: Other Instruction
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was one question and the article was approved overwhelmingly.
Proposed Amendment: None
Article 5: Student and Staff Support
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There were several questions and the article was approved.
Proposed Amendment: None
Article 6: System Administration
A Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There were no questions. The article was then approved overwhelmingly.
Proposed Amendment: None
Article 7: School Administration
A Lebanon Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There were several questions. The article was then approved.
Proposed Amendment: None
Article 8: Transportation
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was then discussion about the need for drivers and support toward compensation.
Proposed Amendment: A Berwick resident made the motion and it was seconded to increase the budget by $25,000 for driver support.
The amendment was approved.
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors as amended. The amended article was approved.
Article 9: Facilities Maintenance
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There were some questions. The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly.
Proposed Amendment: None
Article 10: Debt Service and Other Commitments
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was no discussion. The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly.
Proposed Amendment: None
Article 11: All Other Expenditures
A Lebanon Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There were no questions. The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly.
Proposed Amendment: None
Article 12: Essential Programs and Services Funding Act
A Lebanon Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was no discussion and the article was then approved overwhelmingly.
Proposed Amendment: None
Article 13: Straight Local Money, Written Ballot
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors.
Proposed Amendment: increase by $325,000 to note the changes in earlier articles 1 and 8.
It was overwhelmingly approved to accept the proposed amendment and move to a written ballot.
Berwick Y: 84 No: 1
Lebanon Y: 42 No: 18
N. Berwick Y: 65 No: 8
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Totals Y: 191 No: 27
Article 14: Summary Article
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors.
There were several questions discussed on the article and an amendment proposed.
Proposed Amendment: Increased by $325,000. The proposed amendment passed.
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors as amended. The Motion passed.
Article 15: Raises and Appropriates Funds for the School Nutrition Program
A Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was no discussion on the article and was then approved.
Proposed Amendment: None
Article 16: Adult Education
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was a question regarding the programming for Lebanon in terms of academics. There was some discussion and the article was then approved.
Proposed Amendment: None
Article 17: Expending other funds
A Lebanon Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was no discussion and the article was then approved.
Proposed Amendment: None
A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to adjourn. It was approved overwhelmingly. MSAD #60 North Berwick, Berwick and Lebanon Meeting adjourned at 9:02 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Audra Beauvais
Secretary of the Board of Directors
Count: Berwick: 85 North Berwick:73 Lebanon: 60 Total: 218