Budget Workshop II

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
  Roll Call

  The meeting begins with a roll call of the board members.
• 0:01
  Superintendent's Opening Remarks

  The Superintendent acknowledges the recent power outages and postpones the ElementaryBoundariesandConfigurations workshop to April 8th. He introduces key staff members present for the budget workshop.
• 0:03
  FY25 Budget Key Facts (Superintendent)

  The Superintendent reviews the key facts of the FY25Budget, including a proposed 5% operating budget increase, a mill rate of $9.17, and a 3.8% school tax increase. He notes the impact on a median homeowner would be $123 for the year.
• 0:04
  Budget Constraints (Superintendent)

  The Superintendent outlines the major budget constraints, including rising fixed costs from collective bargaining agreements and the loss of $1.5 million in federal COVID-era funds. He states these factors force difficult decisions about district priorities.
• 0:05
  Budget Adjustments (Superintendent)

  The Superintendent announces a change to the proposed budget. An art position currently funded by expiring COVID grants will be added to the local budget. To keep the budget level, a one-year-only teaching position at Dyer school will be funded from an elementary reserve account instead of the local budget.
• 0:07
  Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) Update (Superintendent)

  The Superintendent addresses the ELO program, whose coordinator position was funded by an expiring state grant. He affirms the program's value and commits to its continuation, explaining that the administration is finalizing a plan to provide for its coordination through other resources and partnerships without adding the position to the local budget.
• 0:13
  Unfunded Positions (Superintendent)

  The Superintendent reminds the board of several desired positions that could not be included in the budget due to fiscal constraints. These include a director of mental health, an additional pre-K section, and behavior support positions, among others.
• 0:15
  Board Discussion on Budget Updates

  Board members react to the Superintendent's updates on the ELO program and the art position.

  • 0:15 DeAngelis
    Member DeAngelis expresses concern about the ELO program's future, emphasizing its importance for career exploration. She requests a detailed plan on how the program will be sustained before the final budget vote, and the Superintendent agrees to provide an update by Thursday.
  • 0:19 Ryan
    Member Ryan thanks students and staff for their advocacy for the ELO program and shares her own positive experiences with similar internship models. She reiterates her suggestion for the district to hire a grant writer to pursue funding for such programs.
  • 0:21 DeAngelis
    Member DeAngelis voices strong support for adding the art position back into the budget, sharing personal stories about how art has positively impacted students and loved ones. She describes art as a critical outlet and way of thinking for many students.
  • 0:23 Schen
    Member Schen thanks the students who emailed the board to advocate for programs they care about, noting it was a heartwarming experience to hear directly from them.
• 0:24
  Presentation: Special Education (Kat Cox)

  Kat Cox, Director of Instructional Support and Special Education, begins her presentation. She thanks her assistant directors and school principals for their partnership in the complex work of special education.
• 0:26
  Student Demographics (Kat Cox)

  Cox presents data on the 649 students identified for special education. She highlights the five most common disability areas, noting that autism diagnoses continue to grow and have surpassed emotional disability as a leading category.
• 0:28
  Special Education Legal Requirements (Brian Kavanaugh)

  Assistant Director Brian Kavanaugh outlines the legal requirements for special education, including Child Find, Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. He explains the comprehensive evaluation process used to determine eligibility.
• 0:31
  IEP Process and LRE (Sonya Croft)

  Assistant Director Sonya Croft describes the collaborative IEP team process, which includes parents, teachers, and administrators. She explains the concept of the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), emphasizing that it is individualized for each student and can range from full inclusion in a regular classroom to placement in a separate school.
• 0:36
  Board Discussion on Special Education

  Board members ask questions and comment on the Special Education presentation.

  • 0:37 DeAngelis
    Member DeAngelis praises the department's compassionate and collaborative approach, citing her personal experience attending multiple IEP meetings for a student. She gives a special acknowledgement to the nursing department for handling complex medical needs.
  • 0:40 Ratliff
    Member Ratliff commends the South Portland special education system and asks about the number of students transitioning from CDS for the upcoming kindergarten class. The director confirms they are currently tracking around 80 identified students.
  • 0:42 Schen
    Member Schen asks about the accessibility of school facilities, playgrounds, and technology for students with varying disabilities. The director responds that while buildings are generally good, playgrounds could be improved, and accessibility is an ongoing, individualized process as new student needs arise.
• 0:44
  Presentation: Adult Education (Erin Vicki)

  Erin Vicki, Director of Adult Education, begins her presentation, noting the program's exciting growth since she started in late 2022. She outlines the program's funding streams, which are heavily reliant on grants.
• 0:49
  Adult Education Program Growth (Erin Vicki)

  Vicki details the rapid expansion of the English language acquisition (ESOL) program, which has grown from two to five levels and is now the third largest in Maine. She describes the high demand, with weekly registrations and a successful but resource-intensive digital skills lab pilot.
• 1:00
  College and Career Access (Erin Vicki)

  Vicki explains the Maine College and Career Access program, which supports adult learners preparing for post-secondary education and high school graduates transitioning to SMCC. The program provides academic support and advising to help students succeed.
• 1:05
  Board Discussion on Adult Education

  Board members discuss the Adult Education program's growth and future.

  • 1:05 Holman
    Member Holman notes the program primarily serves new Mainers and asks about the potential for offering enrichment classes for the broader community. Vicki responds that while it's a good idea, the department currently lacks the administrative capacity but may explore it in the future.
  • 1:07 DeAngelis
    Member DeAngelis asks about capacity issues, scheduling conflicts, and childcare as barriers to participation. Vicki confirms that physical space is the biggest constraint and that partnering with an organization like Opportunity Alliance for childcare is a promising but early-stage idea.
• 1:18
  Presentation: Athletics (Todd Livingston)

  Todd Livingston, Director of Athletics, presents on the department's programs, guided by the core covenants of Respect, Excellence, and Tradition. He introduces his administrative team and gives an overview of the 47 high school and 25 middle school teams.
• 1:23
  Athletics Participation and Success (Todd Livingston)

  Livingston reports that athletic participation is consistently in the mid-40% range for the high school student body. He highlights numerous recent accomplishments, including multiple state and conference championships, as well as many individual awards for both coaches and student-athletes.
• 1:34
  Board Discussion on Athletics

  The board asks questions about the athletics program.

  • 1:34 Ratliff
    Member Ratliff asks about support for students with disabilities who want to participate in sports other than Unified basketball. The directors explain that support is determined by the IEP team and the district works to provide aides as needed.
  • 1:37 Ryan
    Member Ryan asks if the department has conducted a gender equity review to ensure equal resources for male and female athletes. The Superintendent confirms it is a topic of regular discussion and that reviewing the data is a worthwhile endeavor.
  • 1:38 Schen
    Member Schen asks about the process following the end-of-season parent feedback surveys. The Superintendent suggests that sharing high-level, aggregated findings with the community is a possibility, while respecting personnel privacy.
• 1:44
  Presentation: Technology (Andy Wallace)

  Andy Wallace, Director of the TechnologyDepartment, presents on his department's budget, focusing on digital instructional resources and operational effectiveness. He explains that the budget reflects a consolidation of software purchasing and the expiration of multi-year licenses bought during the pandemic.
• 1:51
  Infrastructure and Communication (Andy Wallace)

  Wallace details critical infrastructure needs, including a full Wi-Fi and network switch upgrade at the 10-year-old high school and enhanced cybersecurity measures. He also announces the launch of the new South Portland Schools app and discusses the district's new AI steering committee.
• 2:04
  Presentation: Operations & Safety (Mike Nally)

  Mike Nally, Director of Operations & Safety, provides an overview of his team, which includes facilities, transportation, food service, and safety. He describes his departments as the background support that enables all other district work to happen.
• 2:08
  Operations Budget Highlights (Mike Nally)

  Nally explains significant increases in the operations budget are for right-sizing previously underfunded areas. This includes a 151% increase for contracted transportation services and large increases in utility costs for several schools, driven primarily by natural gas prices.
• 2:20
  Board Discussion on Operations

  Board members comment on the Operations & Safety presentation.

  • 2:22 DeAngelis
    Member DeAngelis thanks the operations departments for their often-unseen work that keeps the district running, from custodians ensuring safety to the food service and transportation teams.
  • 2:23 Holman
    Member Holman acknowledges the need for the transportation budget increase and advocates for pursuing electric or hybrid buses in the future to align with sustainability goals.
  • 2:27 Schen
    Member Schen asks about the long-term capital improvements roadmap for the district. Nally confirms that work is underway to develop an aggressive capital plan for future years, focusing on needs like roofing, HVAC, and boilers.
• 2:32
  Public Comment

  The board opens the floor for public comment on the evening's budget presentations.

  • 2:33 Jennifer Christensen
    A parent voices support for all departments, particularly advocating for adequate coaching staff for large teams like track and field. She shares a personal story about her son's journey through the special education system from first grade to his current success as a junior, highlighting the department's critical, life-changing impact and urging full support for its budget.
  • 2:38 Robin Viola
    A parent of a 2023 graduate speaks about the profound impact the ELO program had on her son, who found his career path as a firefighter through the program. She reads a letter from her son crediting the program and its coordinator, Cherie Inman, for giving him clarity and opportunity, and asks the board to recognize its value.
• 2:44
  Adjournment

  With no further public comment, the board moves to adjourn the meeting.