BRUNSWICK — The public came out and made their voices heard during the Region 10 Technical High School’s Cooperative Board meeting on May 16.

The main topic of the meeting was for the board to vote on the tentative 2012-13 budget for the school, which provides career and technical education classes for students from Brunswick, Regional School Unit 5 and School Administrative District 75.

Teachers, community members and students all urged board members to reject the initial proposed budget of $1,906,479, which would reflect no increase from this year’s budget. Without an increase in funding, programs would be cut and two teachers, one of whom has been with Region 10 for years, might be let go, they argued.

David Smith, general trades instructor at the school, was the first to speak. He laid out a six-part argument, including the need for an 8 percent increase in the proposed budget; use by the Cooperative Board of the established program review format before making changes to the Building Trades program; returning the bookkeeper position to Region 10 from SAD 75; returning the adult education program to Region 10; fully funding and supporting current programs before starting new programs; and sending the Region 10 budget to members town for referendum votes.

Teacher Terry Brackett spoke about the importance of CTE (Career and Technical Education) schools in the development of teenagers. He also stressed the importance of conducting program reviews every five years to ensure that the school and the programs are working as efficiently as they can.

Subsequent speakers reinforced the argument that failing to increase the Region 10 budget would cause erosion to the quality of programs offered at the school. Some argued that flat funding would eventually lead to the demise of Region 10.

Another speaker advocated for transparency and making information more available to community members. She made the point that the Region 10 website was not up to date, which made finding information about the school, the meetings and the budget frustrating.

The building on Church Road is becoming systematically emptied, automotive technology instructor David Giroux said, with recent departures of adult education, driver’s education, a bookkeeping position, and a number of other programs and positions.

Bill Ross, another instructor, said that the Region 10 programs add “common sense” to a generation that is slowly losing its ability to read tape measurers and divide fractions. CTE is vital to the livelihood of Brunswick because the experience gained through a Region 10 education is essential for becoming skilled in culinary arts, carpentry, auto technology, firefighting or other professions, he argued.

It was also proposed that the budget should go through two public hearings before being approved by the board and being sent to be approved by the other regions.

Jane Blais, one of the board members, said the public comments moved her to reconsider her stance. Describing herself as a fiscal conservative, she said the testimony moved her to consider adding to the 2012- 13 Region 10 budget.

Other board members agreed with Blais, and many of them agreed with the importance of opening the budget to a referendum, allowing the public to vote on the school’s annual spending plan. They also agreed with the importance of a scheduled review of programs and a total review of policy.

The board rejected the original budget and passed an amended budget of $1,956,479. The board designated that the added amount be spent to rehire staff targeted for dismissal, on the condition that enrollment for the coming year reflect the need for that staffing.

Overall school budgets for Brunswick, SAD 75 and RSU 5 must be approved by referendum on June 12.

news@ti8mesrecord.com