Bangor schools Superintendent Roger Foegen outlined the upcoming year’s budget concerns at the July 16 meeting of the Bangor School Board. And, like virtually everyone else these days, fuel price increases have gotten his attention.

“Last year, when gas was $3.35 a gallon, we spent $51,000 on 15,296 gallons of fuel,” Foegen reported. “This year, diesel is already up to $4.40 a gallon or more. If gas goes to $5 or $5.50 a gallon we could be paying $76,000 or more a year for fuel.”

According to Foegen, another area where costs are likely to increase is electrical usage in the expanded elementary school, since that space is considerably bigger.

On the other hand, there are things like bus payments in last year’s budget that will not be in this year’s budget. And then there are the unknowns like whether the elementary school will require more maintenance help, how many children will actually sign up for the new 4-year-old kindergarten program and how many children enrolled in school will be from low-income families.

Still, Foegen was able to sound a note of cautious optimism. “After an initial look at things, I’m confident we will be able to meet our needs for next year,” he said.

As a reflection of the higher prices for items including food, the board approved an across-the-board increase of 10 cents for school lunches. The district served 56,000 meals last year but the program was not self-sufficient, finishing about $9,000 in the red.

Board members and Foegen admitted to a reluctance to raise the costs any more than a dime. “We don’t want to be forcing kids to go hungry,” Foegen said.

After an extended discussion, the board also approved a $5 across-the-board increase in season athletic passes. The increase brings the cost of a student pass to $20, $45 for an adult and $80 for a family.

Lois Meinking, elementary principal, told the board that it looks as if the new 4K program is going to have about 40 students. That would translate into about $28,000 of state aid for the program. “It’s looking good,” said Meinking.

In other business the board:

Approved the hiring of Bridget Powers of Rockland as an 80-percent teaching assistant for the early childhood/4-year-old kindergarten program.

Approved Swiss Valley as the district’s milk vendor.

Set Sept. 21 as the date of an open house for the expanded elementary school.

Approved the resignation of custodian Martin Olson. Olson will be taking a job with UW-La Crosse.

Approved a family leave beginning on Sept. 25 for math teacher Amber Mlynczak.

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