SAD 9 officials scheduled to discuss TABOR

By DON WATERHOUSE
Correspondent

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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FARMINGTON -- School Administrative District 9 directors are scheduled Tuesday night to take a stand on TABOR, the tax-limiting bill that will be decided by Maine voters next month.

A decision on a motion to oppose TABOR -- the Taxpayer Bill of Rights -- was tabled by directors at the Sept. 26 meeting after some wanted to hear comments from the measure's supporters before making a stand.

Six board members and SAD 9 administrators attended a forum sponsored by the Western Maine Caucus Sept. 28 at the University of Maine at Farmington where opponents and supporters of TABOR pleaded their cases.

Among the options Tuesday: Approve the tabled motion opposing TABOR, vote to support it, or take a neutral stand, a position SAD 74 directors took at their meeting Oct. 4.

SAD 9 directors at their Sept. 26 session considered a draft resolution by Maine School Management labeling TABOR as harmful to schools.

Among other matters Tuesday night, the board will take up a field trip request for a group of 30 Spanish students and teachers who are planning a foreign exchange trip to Costa Rica Feb. 15-28. The proposal also asks for waiver of a district policy limiting the number of faculty for such trips to two.

Also on the agenda is a proposed contract to lease-purchase several musical instruments for student use. The $3,353 tab for two baritone saxophones, three tenor saxophones, three euphoniums and two bass clarinets would come from the existing instrumental music budget. Tuesday's meeting at Mt. Blue High School library will begin at 6 p.m. with a grievance hearing followed by a student disciplinary hearing, both of which are expected by be conducted in executive session.