Minutes of May 8, 2025 District Budget Meeting

MSAD #60 

North Berwick, Berwick and Lebanon 

MINUTES OF THE DISTRICT BUDGET MEETING OF May 8, 2025

The MSAD 60 school budget meeting took place at Noble High School in North Berwick, Maine beginning at 6:30 pm on May 8, 2025. All board members were present, except Ms. Whalen.  The press was present as well.

Audra Beauvais, Superintendent of Schools, welcomed the residents. She briefly reviewed the budget and she shared with the audience where the 1.15% increase to expenses were incurred and what the impact of declining enrollment, increased valuation of land in the three towns as well as just overall increases in all areas across the board rates was for taxpayers. This current budget will all things considered indicate a 6.93% increase to taxpayers. 

A Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to nominate Geoffrey Day, of Berwick, as moderator.All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

The Superintendent swore in Mr. Day as moderator. 

The moderator noted that he would be making a modification and allowing the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent, non-residents, as well as the administrative team, to speak when responding to direct questions. The Assistant Superintendent will be the recorder of events for the evening.

The Moderator then reviewed the process of the meeting and the rules that would be followed.

Article 1: Regular Instruction 

A Lebanon resident made the motion and it was seconded to add $200,000 to the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was some discussion and the : 

Proposed Amendment: 

A Lebanon resident made the motion and it was seconded to add $200,000 to the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was some discussion and  the resident withdrew the motion.

A Lebanon resident  made the motion and it was seconded to add $80,000 to the proposed article 1 in order to return the fourth grade back to her schools. There was some discussion. The motion was withdrawn. 

There was discussion regarding transportation of the 4th grade Leb students to ELKS and the length of the bus ride. 

A Lebanon resident made the motion and it was seconded to add $252,000 to the proposed budget with the intent to return the Lebanon 4th graders to the Lebanon schools. 

There were several comments and questions. 

 The members then voted on the proposed article amendment by a show of hands.  The motion didn’t pass. 

A North Berwick Resident asked to move the motion 

A North Berwick resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget.   The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly. 

Article 2: Special Education 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There were multiple questions asking more specific questions regarding services as well as other questions about article 1. The residents then voted on the article as recommended by the board of directors. It was approved overwhelmingly. 

Proposed Amendment: None 

Article 3: Career and Technical Education 

A North Berwick  Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. The article was approved overwhelmingly. 

Proposed Amendment: None 

Article 4: Other Instruction 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was some discussion.   The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly.

Proposed Amendment: None 

A North Berwick Resident  asked that the moderator to enforce the protocol of cutting the questions to two per person. 

There was a point of clarification that this meant twice per motion, not for the whole night. 

Article 5: Student and Staff Support 

A North Berwick  Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was one  question. The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly 

Proposed Amendment: None 

Article 6: System Administration 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There were no questions.  The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly.

Proposed Amendment: None 

Article 7: School Administration 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There were several questions.  The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly. 

Proposed Amendment: None 

Article 8: Transportation 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There were several questions.  The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly.

Proposed Amendment: None 

Article 9: Facilities Maintenance 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There were some questions. The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly. 

Proposed Amendment: None 

Article 10: Debt Service and Other Commitments 

A North Berwick Resident  made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was no discussion. The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly. 

Proposed Amendment: None 

Article 11: All Other Expenditures 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There were no questions. The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly. 

Proposed Amendment: None 

Article 12: Essential Programs and Services Funding Act

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was no discussion.  The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly.

Proposed Amendment: None

Article 13: Straight Local Money, Written Ballot 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was some discussion. 

It was overwhelmingly approved to accept the proposed budget and move to a written ballot. 

Berwick Y:  34    No:  3

Lebanon Y:  21    No:  12

N. Berwick Y:  36    No:  7

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Totals Y:  91    No: 22

Article 14: Summary Article 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. 

Proposed Amendment: A Berwick Resident made the motion to amend the language  of the article to adjust it Pre K to Grade 12 rather than K-12.  There was some discussion and the motion passed. 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the amended proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was no discussion.  The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly.

Article 15: Raises and Appropriates Funds for the School Nutrition Program 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors.  There was no discussion.  The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly.

Proposed Amendment: None 

Article 16: Adult Education 

A North Berwick  Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors.  There was some discussion.  The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly.

Proposed Amendment: None 

Article 17: Expending other funds 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to accept the proposed budget as recommended by the board of directors. There was no discussion.  The members then voted on the proposed article as recommended by the board of directors and it was approved overwhelmingly.

Proposed Amendment: None 

A North Berwick Resident made the motion and it was seconded to adjourn. It was approved overwhelmingly. MSAD #60 North Berwick, Berwick and Lebanon Meeting adjourned at 8:46 pm. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Audra Beauvais

Secretary of the Board of Directors 

Count:       Berwick:   37      North Berwick:   43   Lebanon:    33    Total: 113