Tuesday’s statewide vote not to repeal the school consolidation law means Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12 board members at least know they will be in business indefinitely.

What’s not known, at this point, is how much money voters in the eight towns are willing to approve for the 2009-2010 budget, and how much more in state cuts are on the way.

Meeting in Wiscasset last Thursday, October 29, the board agreed to cut their twice-monthly meetings to once a month – settling on the second Thursday of every month.

Voters in the school unit have turned down three proposed budgets in the past, with opposition coming mostly from the towns of Wiscasset, Westport Island and Alna, which will all see increases in their tax rate if the roughly $26 million budget passes.

The board decided to set a date of December 12 for the next referendum budget meeting, with a secret ballot vote in each of the towns on December 15.

In addition to getting a budget passed, the board also has to grapple with impending "curtailments" [Department of Education terminology for read "cuts"] of money from the state.

Supt. Of Schools Greg Potter said, "There is no official word, but it’s expected that education statewide will take a $38 million hit this year." RSU 12 may have a reduction of between $260,000 and $368,000, he noted, but the exact amount won’t be known until late December or early January, he said.

The meeting began on a very sad note with the announcement that high school student Gauge Barnes had died earlier that day. A school assembly was planned for Friday morning, followed by student meetings of advisor groups.

An update on the H1N1 flu situation was provided, with indications that it may have reached a peak.

"As of today, there has been a dip in the rates," Potter said.

Board member Hillary Holm, chairman of the public communications committee, said the committee is looking into how to take some of the information in individual school newsletters and put it into a district-wide newsletter. This would not replace the school newsletters.

The board voted to accept a bid from The First bank for a $2 million Bond Anticipation Note with a 2.37 percent interest for the Chelsea school building project. The total project is estimated at $18 million. According to board member Chris Johnson, the state will pay for the interest, about $70,000, on the notes, and the money borrowed, covering "the entire net expense."