MSAD #58 Superintendent Quenten Clark reads the attorney-prepared initiative to start the budget approval process. The statement was turned into a motion and passed by the school board. (David Hart photo) SALEM — Members of the MSAD #58 school board met last Thursday in a relatively light meeting in terms of tough decisions for directors, unlike past meetings.

Superintendent Quenten Clark explained that representatives of Bunker and Savage will come to discuss their architectural and engineering proposal on Monday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Mt. Abram High School.

The engineering group has been asked to evaluate the high school building to determine its condition. Members would like to get an idea of what costs are ahead to bring the building up to today’s codes. This information could assist the board in making decisions about the future of Mt. Abram.

During budgetary talks over past meetings, some issues were tabled such as the administration in the four elementary schools and elementary sports. Members discussed when these types of issues will be discussed.

Discussion over the principals relates to whether certain individuals will be responsible for multiple schools versus having an administrator in each of the four buildings.

“I think we should get going on this elementary sports issue sooner rather than later,” said director Ellen James. “I think there’s a lot of rumors going around that are not accurate,” she said. James said she’d like to inform the public about what their intent was when they made budget cuts.

The board voted unanimously to eliminate 12 elementary coaching positions in past weeks to save approximately $12,000.

“I think it would be a good discussion item and I think there are some people out there in the general public who would like to present some stuff of their own to the board,” said board chairman Mike Pond.

Directors agreed to have a subcommittee meet next week to see if they could look at the issue of elementary sports cuts and make some form of recommendation as to how to proceed.

Directors also agreed to start discussion over the sports issue at their meeting on May 21.

“Didn’t we already change enough,” said director Sarah Woods.

“We most definitely made a change,” Clark explained. “I’m not quite sure what the definition of that change is. Someone has got to figure out before the school year begins what the athletic program will look like… It’s probably a task for a subcommittee. That’s a larger task for a longer timeframe.”

Members agreed with a pre-written motion developed by the board’s attorneys to initiate the budget approval process and send it to voters.

In other business, members approved an overnight field trip for Stratton sixth and seventh graders. The students were planning a trip to Maine Huts & Trails.

Members also approved a student field trip request that would send some of Alice Yates’s French students to Paris.

District residents will vote on the budget on May 25 at 6 p.m. at Mt. Abram High School.

In a past meeting, directors agreed to “close” the questions for the voters. This means that citizens can vote in favor or against an article and they can also lessen the costs of line items, but not increase the value of a line or restore programs or services. Voters will then validate their decision on June 8 in each of the five towns.