I suppose I should be flattered that my March 18th posting that urged the SAU Board to consider doing without an Assistant Superintendent was hailed by one member of the public at last night’s SAU meeting as evidence that the SAU Board was actually thinking of this. Though they should, they weren’t and aren’t; nevertheless, this misrepresentation of my blog did not prevent a board member from cautioning the public about listening to rumors and blogs. Let me give that board member some helpful advice, too: don’t use a third party’s interpretation to slander a perfectly good blog.
One other word of advice for this board member: don’t think the voters stupid. When discussion arose about the citizen’s petition that passed concerning the SAU budget, this same board member said that voters will not understand that the SAU budget is now a stand alone budget. Few voters follow budget issues, she said, and many will automatically vote “No” when they see another request for money on the school ballot.
Voters understood the issue well enough to vote in favor of the petition, and a complicated petition it was as the law required it to be expressed in dense legalese. Now that the SAU budget will stand alone, voters will see the cost of this administrative layer. Could this be the real worry?
Previous posts: Do we need a new assistant superintendent? https://timberlaneandsandown.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/do-we-need-a-new-assistant-superintendent/
SAU budget petition: https://timberlaneandsandown.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/why-the-sau-budget-should-have-voter-oversight/
timberlaneandsandown 
A gracious person addresses well-intentioned questions and comments in good faith or not at all. That said I do agree with the board member that voters will see the article as one more request for money.
Where I think this could be a problem; if the budget is not passed two or three consecutive times employees, not just the high salaried employees, will not be able to afford to work there as the cost of living has surpassed them. The cost of turnover could be up to 20% of their salary depending on the position.
I have seen how hard the employees at the SAU work for their salary, how dedicated they are to working as a team and how professionally they treat people. The general public does not have the opportunity to see this.
Thank you for your comment. My experience with the SAU support staff has also shown them to be unfailingly professional, polite and responsive. They also have a fine benefits package and a very fair wage. I think we are a long way from fearing an exodus. My trust is in the voters to weigh the relevant factors.