PARIS — All 17 articles in the revised Maine School Administrative District 17 budget warrant were passed Tuesday by residents during the validation hearing at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. 

The second budget referendum is scheduled for Aug. 6. 

More than 100 Oxford Hills residents attended the hearing to find out what changed in the school budget after voters rejected it last month at the referendum. The original budget of $53.56 million has been revised to $50.79 million.

The biggest item eliminated was a $2 million capital investment request, meant to address years of deferred maintenance, which is becoming critical in buildings across the district. The request was cut and instead the School Board’s Operations Committee is developing a more comprehensive list and plan that will be presented as a bond issue in the future.

An additional $770,000, mostly by leaving open positions unbudgeted, was also cut.

Maine School Administrative District 17’s Chief Financial Officer Carrie Colley, front foreground, and district Voter Registration Clerk Debra Hertell, right, are seated with School Board directors during Tuesday’s budget validation hearing at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. All 17 articles in the revised budget warrant were passed by residents in attendance. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat

During the hearing, a handful of people, mostly from Harrison and West Paris, consistently voted against each of the 17 articles.

Agnes Gray Elementary School in West Paris has been closed since February, when an inspection detailing the magnitude of its antiquated systems and 15 years of deferred maintenance was released. Harrison Elementary School, which also lacks updated safety systems, could also eventually close if the district votes to consolidate some schools in order to receive state funds for new school construction.

A few voters sounded off with questions, honing in on local tax shares exceeding and outpacing Essential Programs and Services funding, as stipulated by Maine’s Department of Education.

Some voters also voiced disapproval about the number of school administrators in some of the schools, whose salaries are funded only through local share.

One former high school secretary pointed out that when she retired 15 years ago, there were two assistant principals and 1,200 students; the current budget calls for three assistant principals for a student population slightly over 1,000.

District Superintendent Heather Manchester explained that there has always been a third administrative role at the high school; it was formerly filled by a guidance counselor. When that person left, the position was reallocated as an assistant principal who, like the predecessor, will be heavily involved with managing student behaviors and incidents.

OHCHS Principal Paul Bickford pointed out that along with student behaviors, manpower is needed to handle the volume of growing administrative responsibilities, such as overseeing individualized education plan meetings, 504 plans to accommodate students with disabilities, and other interventions.

Several in attendance stood to push back against claims that the communities of SAD 17 pay too much in local taxes for too little in educational value, earning rounds of applause from the crowd.

Amanda Miller, a Hebron resident with two children in the district, countered with the observation that a third assistant principal should benefit the district.

“I commend you for working creatively … to meet the needs of voters who have voiced financial concerns,” Miller said, addressing Manchester. “As for leadership — I’d like to clarify, adding a third position could potentially save money in the long term savings in liability and lawsuits, and also preventing out-of-district placements that can cost the district an entire salary of an administrator for just one kid, who we cannot keep in the building.”

Kathleen Fraise, an educator at Oxford Hills Middle School, also spoke to provide her own context. “I have never worked for a district where I’ve had more confidence in the administration than this district,” she said. “I’ve never had a superintendent, who may not always like me, who has exhibited such leadership, command of her job, respect of the students, teachers and employees that work for her.”

Dana Dillingham, a resident of Oxford who had shared his concerns about the previous budget at the first validation meeting in May, did not speak during Tuesday hearing but emailed a statement to the Advertiser Democrat as the meeting ended.

“I would like to express my support of the revised school budget as it is presented tonight … and to thank Dr. Manchester and her team as well as the School Board for their extra work in tightening the belt on this budget … Their work was a good compromise.”