FARMINGTON — Regional School Unit 9 directors will continue to act as a budget committee and work to improve the budget-setting process implemented for the 2016-17 school year.

It took two attempts to pass the 2016-17 budget. The first proposal, which represented about a $900,000 increase from the previous year, failed in June. The second proposal of $32.7 million, which was $705,202 more than for 2015-16, passed by 37 votes.

Previously, a subcommittee of the board acted as the budget committee and presented a budget to the entire board for discussion.

For the 2016-17 budget, the entire board was the budget committee.

The board conducted each meeting in public, as required, and had the majority of the budget meetings live-streamed to the internet. Only a couple of meetings were not recorded because there was no one available with the knowledge to operate the cameras.

Administrators presented to the board for review everything the district needs, Superintendent Tom Ward said Tuesday. The board was expected to make changes based on priorities. However, some people thought it was the proposed budget.

To improve the 2017-18 budget-setting process, Director Cherieann Harrison of Wilton asked administrators Tuesday to present their proposed cuts to the board in the beginning of the process instead of in the midst of it.

Director Keith Swett of Wilton requested that positions that are new and not in the current budget, and any staff raises be listed separately.

Director Craig Stickney of Chesterville asked for a list of what absolutely has to funded.

Ward said he was hoping contracts for teachers and administrators are settled before the budget-setting process begins.

Other improvements to the process were also recommended, including finding more ways to educate the public on the process before it begins.

In another matter, the board approved hiring four educational technicians for the Special Education Department for four students who need one-on-one attention. The positions were recommended by individual education program teams.

The needs were unanticipated, but the district is legally required to provide for them, Ward said.

The cost is about $74,000 and the money will first come out of any savings in the salary line, and then the $85,000 in the contingency fund.

Special Education Director Christine Gatto-Shea said the department has developed a new process to determine if more staff is needed.

“If an (individualized education program) team determines that education technician support is necessary for a student, I meet with the principal and teachers to look at existing staff to see if there is any way we can meet the need without increasing ed techs,” she said. “If there is no way we can cover the need, the principal and I meet with (Ward) and (Business Manager Kris Pottle) to make the request for additional staff.”

dperry@sunmediagroup.net