PERU — Regional School Unit 56 Superintendent Pam Doyen told directors Thursday night that the district has not billed MaineCare for behavioral health services this school year because it doesn’t have a person to process claims.

“We have not been able to hire (a licensed social worker or psychologist) to do that piece so we cannot bill MaineCare,” Doyen said.

The district is owed about $60,000, she said.

Because of that, the 2018-19 budget does not include MaineCare revenue.

Other factors driving the upcoming fiscal year budget are less state funding, higher property values for certain towns, and about 10 fewer students districtwide.

Budget priorities for directors are adding a second prekindergarten teacher, restructuring administration so there’s one principal in each school, and having a licensed social worker to bill MaineCare, Chairperson Barbara Chow said.

In other news, the board voted to hire Casey Griffin as an interim second grade teacher at Dirigo Elementary School in Peru. Griffin graduated in December from the University of Maine at Farmington.

Tina Beaulieu, a custodian and bus driver, has resigned, effective at the end of the month. John DeRouche, head custodian at Dirigo Elementary School, is retiring at the end of June.

mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net

Regional School Unit 56 Superintendent Pam Doyen, left, and Chairwoman Barbara Chow at the school board meeting Tuesday in Peru. (Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times)