Sedgwick
Sedgwick school budget rises more than 8 percent

By COLIN POWELL
Contractual pay raises, more high school tuition and unavoidable special education costs in Sedgwick will raise the school budget by more than 8 percent this year. After approving $1,723,370 last year for the 2009-10 school year, the school board recently put together a school budget that will cost $141,568 more, or $1,864,938.

Like with most school boards around the state, the fluctuations of secondary and special needs students left the Sedgwick school board members’ hands tied on some of the biggest increases in next year’s school budget. With 10 seniors graduating and 13 incoming freshmen, secondary tuition payments to public and private high schools will rise more than $81,000. Included in the hike is the annual increase in secondary tuition set by the state, from $8,981 in the current year, to $9,252 next year, a 3 percent rise.

Further adding to the costs next year, the board has decided to put $30,000 in a reserve account to help cushion a large seventh grade

class this year that would otherwise hit the town hard during the 2011-12 budget year when they reach high school.

Sedgwick has also lost more than $77,000 in state funds this year between state funding cuts and delayed penalties for not consolidating a year ago.

In a recent phone interview, board chairman Clare Grindal noted that the Union 76 office staff, including the special education director and superintendent, has passed up their pay raises this year to help keep budgets in the union down. This measure saved Sedgwick more than $4,000, or about 10 percent over the central office costs for the current year.

Town meeting this year will be held on Saturday, March 6, at 9 a.m. at the historic Sedgwick Town House when the community will have the opportunity to vote for or against next year’s school budget. The state- mandated Budget Validation Referendum will be held at the town house on Thursday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The referendum will include a question on whether or not to suspend the BVR for three years.

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