Augusta Schools: 18 positions set to be eliminated

Kennebec Journal, February 21, 2008

(excerpt) A total of 18 positions, including teachers, custodians, special-education staff and central office workers, are slated to be cut in the currently proposed school budget.

The Augusta Board of Education heard a budget presentation Wednesday from Superintendent Cornelia Brown.

The proposed $28.3 million budget, down from the $28.5 million approved by the board last year, will still have to be approved by the board and the City Council.

Brown said the budget would eliminate 18 positions, including at least three special-education jobs, two custodian jobs, one central office job, the assistant principal's job at Hodgkins Middle School and teaching positions at nearly every school.

"There isn't a building other than Cony that hasn't been impacted by budget decisions," Brown said.

Augusta is still waiting to hear how much state funding its schools will get from the state.

Brown said earlier projections saw an additional $480,000 in state aid for Augusta schools. However, she said now the state could provide flat funding for education to Augusta -- or even cut state aid to the city's schools by more than $500,000.

"We're looking at flat-funding or, at worst, lower funding than last year," Brown said.