By Suzanne Hodgson

Staff Writer

Sports programs, art classes and teaching positions are all on the chopping block at RSU 21 in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel.

Superintendent Andrew Dolloff began outlining a plan to reduce the district budget by $2.1 million to $34.1 million during the finance committee’s first public meeting to review the budget for fiscal year 2011.  The decrease reflects an anticipated reduction in state aid.

The meeting included discussion of spending cuts that would reduce funding from the current budget  by more than $3 million and cut the equivalent of at least 14 teaching and staff positions.

Finance Committee Member Gayle Spofford reminded the public the district was working on a three-year budget to head off future deficits.

School officials repeatedly reminded the audience that administrators will face tough choices to compensate for the shortfall in state aid.

 “The administrations are proposing these reductions but very few of these reductions are recommended,” Dolloff said.

Kennebunk High School Principal Peter Dawson cut nearly $500,000 from his budget by proposing the elimination of six positions, including the English language-learners teacher and 3.75 full-time equivalent teaching positions.

The high school will see a drop in enrollment in ninth and 12th grades, Dawson said. The school could increase class sizes in addition to possibly offering fewer class options.

The proposal also includes cutting high school drama classes, but the after-school program will remain along with all musical and drama productions.

Athletics could be curtailed at both the Middle School of the Kennebunks and Kennebunk High School, with a proposed cut to seventh- and ninth-grade sports programs. Athletic Administrator Thor Nilsen said program cuts could be offset by adding more intramural teams at the middle school, while keeping junior varsity and varsity teams open at the high school.

Proposed cuts to the Day One substance abuse and mental health program at the middle and high schools would save the district $50,000.

Arundel resident Jon Renell cautioned taking sports and the substance-abuse program from the district could leave students with “idle hands.”

Middle school principal Jeff Rodman proposed a nearly $300,000 school-wide savings by also cutting the in-school drama program, part-time English language-learners teacher and part-time art teacher position. Field trips, library books and professional development programs also are on the chopping block.

For the third year in a row, the district will not buy any new buses and will look to cut four after-school buses in Kennebunk, and one after-school bus for Thornton Academy Middle School.

Another factor contributing to the budget deficit is lack of state funding for the state’s share of debt incurred during construction of Middle School of the Kennebunks and Kennebunk Elementary School. So far, the state has sent the district $200,000 of its $1.5 million share.

“It relates to MSK and KES buildings. This debt service was state-approved. The figures we’ve gotten from the DOE do not match what the DOE officials said,” said Finance Committee Member John Sharood.

 Sharood said the district has calls into the Department of Education and hopes the missing money is simply an oversight.

Budget meetings will continue on Tuesday, after the Post deadline. On Monday, March 1, the school board will hear the first of the finance committee’s presentations. Public comment will be allowed at the meeting.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.