Unity Elementary School

The estimated $600k deficit ($550k in the regular budget + $50k in food services) Unity is faced with isn’t because anyone at Unity Elementary -- teachers, staff, or school board -- overspent or mismanaged funds. This came directly from financial mismanagement in the shared SAU 6 administration. All decision-making members of that previous administration who were directly involved in the financial mismanagement have been excised from the SAU. We have rounded all numbers to make it easier to explain.

Now, Unity is confronting an estimated $550,000 deficit in our regular operating budget stemming from the SAU’s errors, plus an additional estimated $50,000 shortfall in food services. This gives us a combined total estimated impact of $600,000. Obviously, this raises serious concerns about cash flow, our ability to meet ongoing obligations including payroll, benefits, and essential services, and potential needs for short-term financing and/or budget adjustments so that we can avoid disruptions to school operations.

Our goal through all of this has been to stabilize the district’s finances, protect core educational services, and minimize any long-term impact on students and the community.

The Principal and the Unity School Board have:

• Made significant reductions to the operating budget through targeted cuts across multiple areas, focusing on non-essential expenditures while preserving classroom instruction, staff positions critical to student learning, and basic operations.
• Eliminated or scaled back extracurricular and enrichment programs, such as after-school programs and the summer camp program, to generate immediate savings without affecting the core school day.
• Implemented a hiring freeze on open positions, allowing natural attrition and reallocation of existing staff resources to cover essential needs rather than filling vacancies.
• Made numerous smaller line-item reductions throughout the budget, including careful scrutiny of supplies, maintenance, utilities, professional development, and other administrative and support costs—cumulatively contributing meaningful relief.