WHEN IS PART-TIME FULL-TIME?

One of the issues under discussion for budget cuts in the upcoming SAD 63 school budget is the Librarian's position at Holbrook Middle School. NOTE: There reportedly are school librarians at the Eddington and Holden Elementary Schools but those positions never came into the discussion.

As submitted by the Financial Advisory Group, the Holbrook position is a Part-time position currently being paid $17,300. annually. HOWEVER, according to sources who have contacted this writer, (and posted in this blog some time ago), Interim Superintendent Ray Hart increased the hours of the individual in the position late last summer - authorizing the current librarian to be a 36 hour/week position. It seems that 36 hours/week constitutes a Full-Time position, which means the employee also receives benefits. (Part-time positions apparently do not qualify to receive benefits which is a cost item in addition to the salary/wage.)

SO - the argument presented (and the subsequent "discussion") regarding that position (and whether or not it could be cut or cut back) should perhaps be put back on the table.

As to the issue of cutting back stipends to cover some of the proposed budget reductions, it may be of interest to the voters to know that the stipends originally came into play when the former Superintendent, Reagan, obtained Federal Grants to pay the stipends. Apparently there haven't been any Federal Grants lately for the stipends which may be why that cost is now in the SAD 63 portion paid by the local taxpayers.

Of course, Hart tried to justify the current Business Manager's $75,000. (plus benefits) package because, in addition to being the Business Manager (with a part-time bookkeeper), that position is ALSO the Federal Grant Administrator. WHAT Federal Grants? How many Federal Grants has the current B.M. actually brought into the district in the past year? the past two years?

And then there was the additional justification that the B.M. is also the Food Services Manager. Right. ;-)