Selectmen want specifics on possible school cuts
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

"What are we going to lose?" was Selectman John Fairbanks' question to the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District representatives at the Monday, March 18, meeting.

The Board of Selectmen met with school district officials and representatives from the school committee to discuss the school budget and the pending override.

"I'd like to be able to tell (the voters) what they are getting," Fairbanks said.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Zapantis said he wasn't ready to talk specifics yet.

"It's too early to say teacher X at school Y," Zapantis said.

He called the budget that the school committee certified, $28,271,483, just above a level-services budget.

If passed at town meeting the budget request would call for a $1.1 million override of Proposition 2 1/2 in Westminster and a $753,329 override in Ashburnham.

An override must pass a ballot vote in each of the two towns after receiving approval at both town meetings.

Selectmen Thomas O'Toole said he was concerned about all the "finger pointing" to the state, asking for specific areas or amounts of money the state should be paying that they aren't.

Committee Chairman David Christianson said regional transportation and special education mandates were not being fully funded by the state.

Christianson said since the last override for the school budget in 2004, the school committee has incorporated the costs of the athletic department and clubs as well as the technology program into the budget.

Members of the Advisory Board also raised questions about the district's expenses.

Advisory Board member Keith Harding advocated reducing teacher salaries, especially considering this is a bargaining year.

"I don't see why our communities should pay a premium for teachers when they should feel lucky to teach here," he said.

Harding said even if the override passes this year that it is only putting a patch on a long-term problem.

Christianson said most of the additional staff being requested in the budget as well as the additional operating expenses apart from utilities and health insurance are for special education.

"Those expenses will be filled regardless if we have the money, at the expense of general government," he said.

Selectman Lorraine Emerson told school officials to come prepared to the town meeting.

"It's not going to be an easy sell for you," she said.

In other business:

+ Selectman Lorraine Emerson asked Town Planner Alicia Altieri to ensure there is real consideration of the proposed site plan for the Village Center area. She said that residents are concerned about losing the Westminster's small-town feel.

"I have a real concern about adding another drivethru to that mix," she said.

Emerson asked if there was any way to deny the drive-thru request. Altieri noted that drive-thrus are allowed under zoning requirements.

+ Selectmen also passed a motion that would prohibit any food items but water in the carpeted meeting rooms of the new town hall.