Skowhegan: School budget rises 4 percent

Kennebec Journal, May 7, 2008

(excerpt) School Administrative District 54's budget is up about 4 percent but will actually lower the average education cost.

Superintendent Brent Colbry said that despite the rising cost of teachers' salaries, health insurance, fuel, electricity and almost everything else, the average cost of education for the six district towns has either stayed the same or declined each year for the past five.

More education funding has helped make that possible, but Colbry said the school board is also changing the way the district does business to prepare for leaner times.

"We are trying to create a sort of downward glide path rather than falling off a cliff," he said.