In an effort to save money, Westbrook’s school administrators are returning to the classrooms.

“In difficult times, we have to do things differently,” said Superintendent Stan Sawyer, who will take over a social studies class Tuesday. “We have to do what’s good ultimately for our students.”

The move comes as school districts throughout southern Maine are freezing their spending, cutting back on field trips, staff development and purchasing supplies and, in some cases, holding off on filling positions, in response reductions in state subsidies. The state cut $27 million in general purpose aid to Maine schools, as part of an effort to fill a $150 million budget gap created by falling revenues due to the poor economy.

The state cut will mean a $324,000 reduction in state aid to Gorham from its original subsidy of $16 million. Westbrook will lose about $414,000 in aid – or 3.3 percent of what had been budgeted for the year – bringing the state funding down to a little more than $12 million.

The cut came as part of an executive order from Gov. John Baldacci to cut $80 million from the state budget. As legislators returned to Augusta this week, they were expected to work on getting the state’s budget in line with the rest of the revenue gap.

Gorham Superintendent Ted Sharp said he is worried a second cut could be coming in January.

On Tuesday, the Gorham Town Council passed a resolution calling on Baldacci and the Legislature to pay 55 percent of the cost of education – a state goal that has been derailed repeatedly in tight budget years.

The resolution, sponsored by Town Council Chairman Matt Robinson, cited a referendum passed by voters several years ago requiring the state to meet the 55 percent funding goal.

“Every dollar taken out of education funding lands on our tax rate. It either means drastic cuts or local tax increases,” said Town Councilor Burleigh Loveitt.

However, it didn’t appear Gorham’s resolution would have any immediate effect on the funding problems for local schools.

Sawyer said he wouldn’t be opposed to Westbrook officials passing a similar resolution, but said he didn’t know how effective it would be, considering the issue is one facing the whole state – not to mention the larger economic problem facing the whole country.

“We’re in a recession,” Sawyer said. “The reality is all of the state agencies, including the schools, need to be part of the solution.”

Sawyer addressed all staff members at a general assembly last week, where he asked teachers to shut lights off in their classrooms when they’re not in use and told them professional development would be discontinued for the remainder of the school year.

The new substitute teachers will include principals, assistant principals and members of the technology department, among others, totaling about 20. By having each person fill in one day a month, Sawyer said, the school will be able to save between $15,000 and $20,000 this year.

He said he hopes retired Westbrook school teachers will volunteer to substitute, as well.

Sawyer said last week field trips, athletic programs and vacant positions will all be looked at closely for ways to save.

Sharp planned to meet Wednesday with Gorham principals, financial officer Hollis Cobb and Katie Hawes, the special education director, to discuss the reduction in state aid. He said he didn’t believe the first round of subsidy cuts would affect school staffing.

Cuts in Gorham planned now would impact buying supplies like paper and canceling field trips. Sharp said the “first filter” in making what he called discretionary cuts would rest in hands of the school principals.

“We’ve put a freeze on spending except for essentials,” Sharp said.

If another state reduction were announced next month, however, timing could be problematic for districts halfway through the budget year. Sharp said layoffs would require 90 days’ notice, according to law.

In School Administrative District 6, state aid has been cut by more than $500,000, from $19,270,682 to $18,708,458. No one from the school district returned calls by American Journal deadline to comment on the cut.

Administrators will teach as part of plan to save