BATH

Administrators and school board members in Regional School Unit 1 have a goal: quality education for all of its students, balanced with a sound economic piece.

“It’s easier said than done,” Superintendent Patrick Manuel said during Monday night’s board meeting at Dike- Newell School.

After prioritizing needs for that quality education in a three-year cycle, they came up with, initially, a 2013-14 budget up 9.7 percent from the current outlay.

Knowing that wouldn’t do, Manuel met the board again last week to drop items from their wish list. They devised a proposal with a 6.1 percent rise in the local contribution.

Manuel and the board unveiled elements of that draft Monday night. A public budget forum is scheduled for April 8 at Woolwich Central School, beginning at 6 p.m.

“This is a fluid process,” Manuel emphasized.

As of now, the RSU 1 budget would top $27.6 million — up 6.3 percent from the current $26 million plan.

Administration believes the school unit needs a prekindergarten class three days weekly at Phippsburg Elementary School, a school resource officer at Morse High School and additional special-education instructors.

To get to the 6.1 percent increase, Manuel said, supplies and equipment would take a hit.

More numbers will be available by noon today on the RSU 1 website, Manuel said.

Meanwhile, the school unit is still working under a spending freeze, business manager Ruth Moore told the board.

Earlier, the principal and instructors at Morse gave the board an assessment of the new “waterfall” school calendar which has shortened class periods.

Student representative Kyle Hietala gave “two thumbs up” to the new schedule while student rep Monica Frempong was less enthusiastic, but gave it “one thumb up.”

Morse discarded the old “4- by-4” classroom block consisting of four, 80-minute classes per day, per semester. Class length is now 56 minutes.

Principal Peter Kahl said most students, especially underlassmen, like the shorter periods. Science teachers miss the longer ones, which he said allowed labs during normal classroom time.

“I think the length of class is exactly right,” Kahl said. “I think 55 minutes is a really good amount of time to be in class.”

Johnna Stanton, an English teacher, said her students have completed six novels in depth, without rushing.

“Rigor is up,” Stanton said. “I’ve seen a difference in behavioral issues. I think it’s been a real improvement.”

Social studies teacher Rick Joyce said the new schedule has challenges for teachers, but students are benefitting.