To stave off teacher layoffs, Merrimack Valley School Board members indicated Wednesday that they may support charging families for school sports, forgoing certain building maintenance and halting a program that provides each elementary student a computer.

These possibilities arose as the board considered how to reconcile a $1.9 million reduction to the district’s proposed budget passed by voters earlier this month.

Administrators said the options seriously discussed totaled up to roughly $1 million of that amount.

Superintendent Randy Wormald previously estimated the budget cut would force the district to eliminate 15 to 20 positions, and he did not revise that estimate during the meeting.

Administrators said they are prioritizing limiting layoffs and will present between one and three options to the board to vote on next Monday. Wormald said at least one of those options will be “very palatable.”

Board chair Tracy Bricchi clarified that the board rather than administrators possesses final decision-making authority on the nature of the cuts, putting to rest a disagreement that broke out between Wormald and some board members last week.

Wednesday’s meeting – which was widely attended by district educators, who dressed in red – turned into a rebuke of those who had campaigned to reduce a budget they saw as bloated.

“It’s not fluff that we’re talking about,” board member Stacie Jarvis of Boscawen said. “I know my student’s going to be impacted, as well as thousands of other kids. This is not fluff, and this is the result of a group of people cutting the budget down, so just some reality for everybody.”

During the public comment period of the meeting, several educators specifically came to the defense of Wormald, who has weathered a barrage of personal attacks since he disclosed in January that the district overspent by $2 million last school year.

“I can’t imagine another district where I would see the superintendent walking the halls, chatting with staff, reading elementary students or taking part in a friendly, yet competitive staff versus student dodgeball game during winter carnival,” high school special education teacher Katie Goodwin said. “These things aren’t in the job description. These things are a reflection of who our leaders truly are.”

School sports

Up to $98,000 in additional revenue

District administrators presented board members with a series of options to reduce school sports costs or generate revenue from them, ranging from eliminating certain sports at the middle school to charging families a “pay-to-play” fee.

Board members appeared to coalesce around the “pay-to-play” option, although some said they were uncomfortable with the proposed $230 per-sport price tag. At least one member said he opposed any expense.

If that fee were implemented, the district estimated it would generate $98,000 in revenue.

Several area districts, including Concord, Bow and Hopkinton, already charge families for sports participation, though their fees range from $90 to $100, according to MV athletic director Kenny Edwards.

The proposal brought by administrators would cap the annual fee at $460, even if a student plays three seasons of sports. Families who qualify for free and reduced lunch would not be charged.

Computers

Up to $200,000 saved

Currently, every student in the district receives a new Chromebook in first, fifth and ninth grade.

Board members appeared to support not ordering the computers for every first grader next year, though they didn’t approve of pausing the one-to-one computer program for the upper grades.

Each Chromebook costs the district $330. According to the Department of Education, there are 136 kindergarten students in the district currently, so that option would save roughly $45,000.

Board members said that plan would come with the added benefit of reducing screen time for the district’s youngest learners.

“I think that less screen time and more outdoorsy, I think that’s what we need,” said Julia Jones of Salisbury, who supported removing all of the Chromebooks – not just those for first graders.

Other board members pushed back that a wholesale elimination of the computers would present equity issues.

“We have to remember that there are some families that might not have computers in their house and we have a lot of learning online now,” said Jessica Wheeler Russell of Penacook.

Building maintenance

Up to $200,000 saved

The proposed budget for next year had included $631,000 for building and site improvement, which district administrators initially proposed cutting back by $100,000. Some board members suggested that the reduction should be $200,000, instead.

Next year’s capital improvement plan calls for $65,000 in spending on fire sprinkler heads, which the district is required to replace. It also includes setting aside $228,000 for a planned renovation of the high school roof in coming years, a project that will ultimately cost over $1 million, and $65,000 for upgrades to the bathrooms at Salisbury Elementary.

Board members expressed concerns about the long-term consequences of putting off maintenance but most agreed the planned expenditures could be reduced to some extent.

“I agree with the modest cuts to the site improvement and building improvement,” said Laura Vincent of Loudon. “I think we need to not neglect what needs to be done, but not do a lot this year.”

Busses

Up to $175,000 saved

The district is set to replace two busses next year, which assistant superintendent Catherine Masterson described as “absolutely necessary.”

However, some board members pushed back and asked whether they could replace only one of the two. If the district only replaces the one, it would save $175,000.

Health insurance

Will save $300,000

A renegotiation of the district’s employee health insurance plan will save $300,000 from the amount initially budgeted.

Other considerations

Wormald clarified that there is no surplus in the district’s food service budget, which had been discussed as a potential option for cuts at last week’s meeting.

Other options — including saving money by lowering the building temperature — were nixed.

There was also some discussion of charging for summer programs and co-curricular activities besides sports, as well.

Jeremy Margolis can be contacted at jmargolis@cmonitor.com.