March Regular Meeting

Note: Transcripts are generated from video auto-captions. While highly accurate, they are non-official and do not meet State Archivist record-keeping requirements.

• 0:00
  Call to Order and Roll Call

  Chairperson Ryan calls the meeting to order, followed by the superintendent conducting a roll call of the board members and student representatives.
• 0:01
  Chair's Announcements (Ms. Ryan)

  Ms. Ryan announces upcoming School Board Budget Workshops on March 18th, March 25th, and March 28th, as well as a workshop on elementary boundaries and the next regular meeting on April 8th.
• 0:02
  Student Representative's Report (Gabe Domingos)

  Gabe Domingos reports on recent and upcoming events at SPHS, including a Project Graduation fundraiser, scholastic art awards, the winter ball, chorus concerts, and the drama club's one-act festival performance.
• 0:06
  Recognition of SPHS Boys' Indoor Track & Field Team

  The Superintendent and Board of Education conduct an extensive recognition of the SPHS Boys' Indoor Track & Field Team for winning the Class A State Championship. The segment includes remarks from the superintendent, student team captains, and the head coach.

  • 0:07 Mr. Matheney
    The Superintendent introduces the recognition, reading the names of all coaches, volunteers, and student-athletes by class year, from seniors to freshmen, with applause for each group.
  • 0:13 Henry Risch, Matthew Frey, Ryan Gildart, Gedeao Buanza-David
    Team captains thank the coaches, parents, and the school board for their support and recognition. They highlight the team's camaraderie, growth, and hard work as key factors in their success.
  • 0:17 Dave Cahill
    The head coach thanks the school district, administration, and community for creating a supportive environment. He emphasizes the team's philosophy of inclusiveness, camaraderie, and sportsmanship as being even more important than winning championships.
• 0:25
  Board Discussion on Track Team Recognition

  Several board members offer their congratulations and praise for the track team and its coaching staff, focusing on leadership, sportsmanship, and being positive role models.

  • 0:25 Ms. Holman
    Ms. Holman praises Coach Cahill's leadership, highlighting his efforts to make every student feel they belong and his focus on the well-being of the kids.
  • 0:27 Ms. Ratliff
    Ms. Ratliff emphasizes that the team's Good Sportsmanship Award speaks to their core values of mutual support and encouragement. She also encourages the community to advocate for more media coverage for the track program.
  • 0:30 Ms. Ryan
    Ms. Ryan notes that the sportsmanship award says the most about the team's character and thanks them for being excellent role models for younger students in the community.
• 0:31
  Recognition of Athletic Director (Mr. Matheney)

  The Superintendent recognizes Athletic Director Todd Livingston for receiving a national citation from the National Federation of State High School Associations for his career-long dedication to high school athletics.
• 0:35
  Superintendent's Report: Enrollment & Conference Update (Mr. Matheney)

  Mr. Matheney reports current enrollment at 2,909 students and shares key takeaways from the National Conference on Education, focusing on the coming impact of AI and best practices for strategic planning.
• 0:42
  Pre-K Program Update (Dr. Prince)

  Assistant Superintendent Dr. Prince reports that the Pre-K lottery is complete, with about 85% of seats awarded. She also outlines efforts to explore expanding Pre-K access through partnerships with community-based providers and collaboration with Child Development Services.
• 0:51
  DEI Action Plan & Coordinator Search Update (Dr. Prince)

  Dr. Prince announces the search for a new DEI Coordinator and provides updates on the DEI Action Plan. Progress includes forming an internal equity team, developing inclusive language protocols, establishing staff affinity groups, and finalizing a multilingual master plan.
• 0:59
  Superintendent’sFY25Budget Presentation (Mr. Matheney)

  Mr. Matheney begins his presentation of the proposed FY25 budget, framing it with the theme "Learning for All with Excellence and Equity." He introduces the key figures and context for the budget development process.
• 1:04
  Budget Context: District Transformation Since 2018 (Mr. Matheney)

  The Superintendent details the significant demographic transformation the district has undergone since 2018. This includes a 19% increase in special education students, an 88% increase in multilingual learners, and a 700% increase in students eligible for McKinney-Vento services.
• 1:09
  FY25 Budget Key Facts and Tax Impact (Mr. Matheney)

  Mr. Matheney presents the top-line numbers: a proposed operating budget of $69.4 million (a 5% increase) and a projected school tax mill rate of $9.17. This represents a 3.82% increase in the school portion of the tax rate.
• 1:17
  Budget Comparison with Neighboring Districts (Mr. Matheney)

  The Superintendent compares the proposed budget increase to other districts, noting that South Portland's proposed 3.82% mill rate increase is lower than Portland's proposed 6.85% increase. He also states that 10 of 14 reporting districts in the region have higher percentage budget increases.
• 1:20
  Capital Improvement & Unmet Budget Requests (Mr. Matheney)

  The budget includes capital improvement projects like painting and gym floor maintenance, funded by reserves. Mr. Matheney also lists significant unmet requests, including a mental health/intervention coordinator, an additional Pre-K section, and several teaching and support positions.
• 1:28
  Board Discussion on FY25 Budget

  Board members ask clarifying questions and provide initial reactions to the Superintendent's budget presentation, discussing Pre-K, mental health support, and the overall fiscal approach.

  • 1:30 Ms. Schen
    Ms. Schen asks about the feasibility and cost of extending the Pre-K day to better accommodate working families and requests data on why more families do not apply for the program.
  • 1:33 Ms. Ratliff
    Ms. Ratliff asks for a cost comparison between adding a new Pre-K section and creating a mental health coordinator role, suggesting a coordinator model similar to the nursing department might be more affordable.
  • 1:36 Ms. Holman
    Ms. Holman commends the Superintendent for presenting a responsible and conservative budget, noting it appears to be a "straight shooter" proposal without inflated requests.
• 1:38
  Personnel Update: Resignations & Retirements (Mr. Matheney)

  The Superintendent announces the resignations of Lindsey Hutchins, Margaret Esten, and Julie Pitt. He extends special appreciation to Ms. Esten and Ms. Pitt for their many years of service to the district.
• 1:39
  Public Comment on Agenda Items

  Two citizens address the board regarding the Superintendent's FY25 budget presentation, both expressing concern that the proposed budget may be too conservative to meet the district's significant needs.

  • 1:40 Chelsea Byun
    Ms. Byun appreciates the effort to present a responsible budget but questions if being in the bottom third for budget increases among neighboring communities is appropriate given the district's unique challenges and needs for investment.
  • 1:43 Eleni Richardson
    Ms. Richardson echoes the sentiment that the starting budget proposal seems low and expresses support for funding an additional Pre-K program and the mental health coordinator position. She also asks if the 60/40 income-based metric for Pre-K enrollment could be reconsidered.
• 1:47
  Board Member Comment on Budget Context (Ms. Ratliff)

  Ms. Ratliff provides context on the city's overall budget, noting that education already comprises over 62% of total spending. She emphasizes the need to balance the schools' needs with the burden on taxpayers, particularly those on fixed incomes.
• 1:50
  Vote on Consent Agenda

  The board unanimously approves the consent agenda, which includes the minutes from the February 12, 2024 meeting.
• 1:50
  Committee Reports

  The chairs of the Finance, Buildings & Grounds, and Policy committees provide brief updates. The Finance Committee is on track, and the Policy Committee presents a first read of a revised policy on superintendent evaluation.
• 1:54
  Vote on 2024-2025 School Calendar

  Following a motion and second, the board unanimously approves the school calendar for the 2024-2025 school year.
• 1:54
  Public Comment (Open)

  One board member speaks during the open public comment period.

  • 1:55 Ms. Holman
    Ms. Holman speaks in favor of giving student representatives real voting power on committees. She also announces an upcoming City Council meeting on the future of the Mahoney building, scheduled for Thursday, March 14th.
• 1:57
  Vote to Enter Executive Session

  The board votes unanimously to enter an executive session to discuss collective bargaining with the South Portland Education Support Professionals Association (SPSDSEA).