BINGHAM — Officials in School Administrative District 13 are asking residents to approve a new leadership structure that would shift some of the duties of a districtwide principal onto administrative liaisons at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
The proposed change is related to the demands of meeting new educational requirements in teacher evaluations, proficiency-based diplomas and student growth, according to Superintendent Virginia Rebar.
“Our present administration — myself and the principal — are pretty strung out. We’re doing all that we can do with managing the time we have,” Rebar said. “When you add in the new principal and teacher evaluation model that the state has required of us, it’s much more.”
The administrative liaisons would be teachers or staff members already employed by the district, and the total cost of the change would be $15,000 in stipends. It is part of an overall $3.4 million budget that is being proposed for the 2015-2016 school year and that will be presented to residents Thursday at a district budget meeting.
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Quimby Middle School. Residents will vote on budget articles at the meeting as well as in a districtwide referendum on Tuesday, June 9.
The $3,432,903 budget represents an increase of $97,896, or about 3 percent, from last year’s budget of $3,335,007. Yet the amount of money to be raised locally is down in both Bingham and Moscow, a change that Rebar said is largely the result of an increase of about $125,000 in state subsidy.
In addition to the added $15,000 cost for administrative liaisons, other cost increases include repairs to the Quimby Middle School roof, estimated to cost about $5,000; rate increases for utilities and electricity; increases in teacher retirement costs; and upgrades to buses and the district food service van.
The district hopes to fill the administrative liaison positions with staff members who have certifications in administration.
“If all goes well, we certainly would want to replicate the model,” Rebar said. “It’s clear that our present structure is not going to accommodate the progressive steps we need to follow.”
Bingham residents are being asked to raise $859,034, about $9,000 less than last year. Moscow residents are being asked to pay $1,112,546, about $14,000 less than last year.
“I’m very excited that we’re able to offer a budget that’s actually reducing the burden on the towns,” Rebar said. “I’m very excited about that. It’s the first time it’s happened since I’ve been here, and I think it’s a wonderful thing.”
Rachel Ohm — 612-2368
Twitter: @rachel_ohm
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