Earlier this week, Superintendent Bob Kahler announced a “budget freeze” was instituted for Alternative Organizational Structure 98. In his Nov. 8 report to the Community School District committee, Kahler explained the action was taken as a precaution due to uncertainty in the business office. “It doesn’t mean we’re not going to continue buying essential items. It’s more ‘tapping of the brakes,’ and taking second and third looks for non-budgeted items,” he said. 

Committee member Bruce MacDonald of Boothbay sought a more elaborate explanation. He asked, “Is this some sort of red flag?” Kahler described the situation as “Not a red flag, I should’ve used a different word than freeze, maybe prudent works better.” 

In other action, the committee received legal advice on proposed changes to the school charter. Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor selectmen are seeking to “repeal and replace” the document written in 1954. Attorney Bill Stockmeyer is advising the school committee. He advised to seek a consensus with the two select boards in creating a replacement mirroring Maine law. “You have a document now which is archaic and hard to understand. You might be better off with a new document based on Maine law which includes exceptions you want to keep from the current charter,” he said. 

Kahler will meet with Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor town managers to discuss further charter changes. Municipal officials are hoping to submit a final charter change to meet a deadline for the 2023 legislative session. 

In his report, Kahler updated committee members about a possible tuition increase for Bath Regional Career and Technical Center. For years, state subsidies haven’t covered the center’s additional costs, he said. “They have absorbed those costs in the past, but it has reached a point where they want members to ‘kick in’ for additional costs,” he said. Kahler and Boothbay Region High School Principal Tricia Campbell are both directors on the center’s board. The tuition increase for the next school year will be considered at a future technical center board meeting. 

There is also discussion revolving around BRHS becoming a career and technology center satellite site. Kahler reported about preliminary discussions in offering two courses in Boothbay Harbor. “This is probably two to three years away, but I spoke to the director about offering marine services and outdoor leadership courses here,” he said. Kahler added the delay is due to a lengthy application process, and state education officials needing to verify courses wouldn’t compete with ones offered in Bath. 

Building Exploratory Committee member Abby Jones urged both school board and community members to attend the Nov. 30 meeting. She reported the BEC needs input on whether to include a $3 million middle school addition to the proposed $76 million renovation. “We need to reach out to the community for their input. This is an important decision,” she said. Kahler added the BEC has a goal to raise $40 million in private funds for the project. “If we don’t reach the goal by February, in March, we will decide if we want to push the May vote back,” he said. 

The committee meets next at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13 in the high school library.