Representing the highest year-to-year percentage increase ever, the proposed $21.3 million, 2008-2009 Cape Elizabeth school budget faces several hurdles before it goes to voters.

The School Board began its examination Feb. 14 of Superintendent Alan Hawkins’ initial spending plan, which reflects a 13.28 percent cost increase over last year’s $18.8 million budget. Two more such workshops are scheduled, Feb. 26 and March 4, before the budget moves to the Town Council. Depending on action in the Legislature, the town might also be required to hold a referendum on the budget.

Hawkins developed the budget, which he said reflects a maximum figure that encompasses all of the needs of the district, without any town spending restrictions. In 2005, the Town Council tied spending increases to the consumer price index and cost of living increase. The three-year cap set spending increases at 3 percent in 2008, at 3.9 percent in 2007, and at 5.7 percent in 2006.

That pledge, according to Town Councilor Jim Rowe, is no longer in effect.

That situation likely will change after the Town Council meets March 3, when it is scheduled to discuss spending targets.

“Any limitations the council makes for the school budget will begin on March 3,” said Rowe.

After the Town Council sets a budget target on March 3, the School Board will present its budget to the Town Council on March 20, and to the council’s finance committee on April 1. After several public meetings, the finance committee will review and come up with a final budget adoption on May 27.

Councilor David Backer said this week he has already heard from residents who are concerned about the large school budget increase and its effect on the tax rate.

If the budget were approved as is, homeowners with a median home value of $250,000 would see a 15.8 percent increase in their property taxes, or an increase of $467 on an average tax bill of $2,956.

“Presuming that we’re heading into a recessionary environment where wage increases are modest, many citizens are concerned that they can’t personally bear a tax increase of the size that is proposed by the current budget,” said Backer Tuesday. “The council will take those concerns to heart.”

Also likely to impact these early budget numbers is the funding allotment from the state, which is not yet known.

Some of the major increases in the spending plan include $1.1 million estimated for new staff positions, an $822,000 increase in salaries and benefit costs for existing staff, and a $132,000 increase for oil, electricity and other energy costs.

Hawkins explained that the budget process this year would be different. He started getting the budget ready earlier than usual, in September, working together with principals to come up with a spending plan.

“Some people ask me, ‘Why don’t you run a school system like a business with minimal costs and maximum returns?'” Hawkins said. “In my 40 years of experience in education, I understand that children are not machines. We provide the best possible education for our children, and we want to remain one of the highest performing school systems in the state, if not the nation.”

Some of the most important budget needs Hawkins listed were increased staff to support student academic needs, assessment of student learning, extra-curricular and co-curricular assessment, professional curriculum and staff development, technology and data system upgrades and maintaining textbook quality and supply.

New staff, salaries, benefits and energy costs make up 7.5 percent of the 13.28 percent increase in this year’s budget. The remaining 5.7 percent includes technology and classroom equipment, textbooks, staff development, athletic budget, maintenance and field trips.

New staff positions requested for Pond Cove Elementary School include a part-time heath teacher, literacy teacher, part-time social worker, math teacher, summer reading instructor and first-grade teacher. The middle school is requesting a part-time language arts teacher, part-time technology integrator to help teachers incorporate technology in their classrooms, part-time math teacher and two educational technicians. The high school is requesting a literacy teacher, part-time technology integrator, social worker, part-time Latin teacher and part-time educational technician.

District-wide new staff positions requested include a technology technician, nurse, data facilitator to maintain and the school’s data server, two athletic coaches, a curriculum coordinator and a part-time athletic administrator. The budget also includes requests for the addition of three new teacher-leaders (one for each school) to help with professional development of teachers. Teacher-leaders take on additional responsibilities in addition to their teaching, to consult with teachers about curriculum, lead content-specific workshops and develop school-wide curriculum plans in their area of expertise.

“My assignment includes identifying what has worked well for us in the past in teaching language arts and facilitating professional development for our teachers in the newest and best instructional strategies,” said Jamie Michaud, a teacher leader at the middle school.

Cape Elizabeth Middle School Principal Steve Connolly told the School Board the additional teacher-leader position was a “Level 1” priority on his list, or the most important budget request. The teacher-leader position grew out of a five-year curriculum development plan that began in 2001, but lost funding. The plan was developed to hire staff to assist with curriculum and professional development. When funding was lost, teachers stepped up to lend their expertise to curriculum and professional development.

The board launched into a discussion about offering stipends to teachers who volunteer for such positions as teacher-leaders and teachers who volunteer to be on various committees. Board member Trish Brigham suggested that school principals supply board members with more information about the teacher-leader position, so they could better understand their role in the schools.

“It’s important for us to know what we’re paying for with these positions,” Brigham said.

“I see us as in a transitional period right now,” said Hawkins. “In terms of assessing these positions, I think we’re just starting to figure out answers to where we’re going.”

As part of the school consolidation law, school systems must reduce central office, facilities and maintenance, transportation and special education spending by 5 percent of current costs. Hawkins said central office spending is below the 4.1 percent of the total budget amount, but the other categories may be difficult to meet.

“Our education commissioner, Susan Gendron, is lobbying right now to get that 5 percent figure higher, so that we can maintain our buildings, transportation, and special education programs without making any severe cuts,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins also said the district will consider consolidating the middle and high School bus routes in order to save on transportation costs.

The school district expects to soon learn what its state funding allocation will be. Last year, Cape Elizabeth received $2.8 million in state funding, and Hawkins is projecting a similar number this year.

A CLOSER LOOK

The 2008-2009 Cape Elizabeth school budget will be reviewed by the School Board in workshop sessions, Feb. 26 and March 4, at 7 p.m. in the high school library.

The Town Council meets March 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, to discuss town spending targets.