Budget Workshop I

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

  The chair calls the BOARD OF EDUCATION FY26 BUDGET WORKSHOP I to order.
• 0:00
  Roll Call

  The roll is called, establishing a quorum with two members noted as absent.
• 0:00
  Pledge of Allegiance

  The board and audience rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.
• 0:03
  FY26 Budget Workshop Introduction (Superintendent Metheny)

  The superintendent welcomes attendees to the first of three budget workshops and outlines the evening's agenda, which includes his presentation, board discussion, and public comment.
• 0:04
  Budget Book Correction (Superintendent Metheny & Dr. Prince)

  The administration notes a missing line item (2211) on page 4.8 of the budget book for several director salaries and community partnerships, providing the correct total of $408,457. They assure the board the overall budget total remains correct.
• 0:11
  Budget Context: Enrollment & Staffing Trends (Superintendent Metheny)

  The superintendent presents data showing a significant student enrollment decline of nearly 300 students since 2022, projecting the lowest enrollment in over 15 years. He contrasts this with a significant increase in staff since 2017, noting the district now has 88 more staff and 197 fewer students.
• 0:14
  Budget Context: Changing Student Needs (Superintendent Metheny)

  The presentation details a sharp decrease in students requiring newcomer multilingual services (from 318 to 80) and McKinney-Vento eligible students (from 299 to 181 in one year). This data is presented as part of the rationale for related staff reductions.
• 0:18
  Budget Context: Taxpayer Impact (Superintendent Metheny)

  The superintendent explains that the school department receives 61% of local property taxes. He illustrates that due to increased property appraisals and a projected mill rate increase, the average single-family homeowner's school tax bill could rise by 38% (over $1,100) between FY25 and FY26.
• 0:30
  Budget Context: Federal Funds Depletion (Superintendent Metheny)

  The superintendent explains that approximately $700,000 in one-time federal carryover and title funds used to support positions in the current budget are now depleted. This creates significant pressure on the local budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
• 0:32
  Positions Shifted to Local Budget (Superintendent Metheny)

  Despite the loss of federal funds, 11.5 teaching positions are being saved by moving their funding sources to the local budget. These roles include special education teachers, literacy and math specialists at Kaler and Skillin, and a behavior strategist.
• 0:34
  Detailed Proposed Staff Reductions (Superintendent Metheny)

  A specific list of eliminated positions is provided, including the Director of Curriculum, HR Coordinator, two ESOL teachers, three Social Emotional Learning teachers, a McKinney-Vento social worker, and various Ed Techs, including library and percussion support.
• 0:43
  Board Discussion on Budget Presentation

  Board members begin their discussion of the superintendent's presentation, asking clarifying questions and sharing initial reactions to the proposed budget and its underlying data.

  • 0:43 Susan Rauscher
    Board member Rauscher asks for clarification on the tax impact slide, confirming that the increase is driven by new property appraisals. She also suggests adding more recent data to the enrollment summary table in the budget book for better year-over-year comparison.
  • 0:49 Elliot Wertheimer
    Student representative Wertheimer expresses concern that cutting elementary social-emotional learning positions will disproportionately harm lower-income students and students of color who may not have access to outside mental health support.
  • 0:51 Adrian Dowling
    Board member Dowling expresses deep frustration with using residential property taxes to fund public education, calling the system fundamentally unfair to taxpayers, renters, students, and teachers alike.
  • 0:56 Tandy Ratliff
    Board member Ratliff states she would rather have an employee working with students than a second lunch program. She also praises the idea of an education foundation and argues that South Portland's reputation for strong special education services is a key reason families move to the city.
• 1:08
  Public Comment

  A lengthy public comment period features teachers, a student, parents, and residents who overwhelmingly express deep concerns over the proposed cuts. Common themes include the negative impact on student well-being, the loss of essential curriculum leadership, and the strain on remaining staff, balanced against taxpayer affordability concerns.

  • 1:09 Sarah Gay
    As SPTA President, she argues the board is being asked to approve a budget based on vague future plans and strongly opposes cutting the Director of Curriculum. She states that specialized, centralized management of teaching and learning is essential and cannot be easily absorbed by other administrators.
  • 1:21 Maeve Paskins
    A 7th-grade percussionist gives a passionate student's perspective, arguing that the percussion Ed Tech is essential for learning complex skills and supporting the entire band program. She pleads with the board not to take away a teacher who is critical to the education and success of many students.
  • 1:33 Donna Kane
    A longtime resident and taxpayer warns of a taxpayer "crisis," citing her own 40% tax increase. She argues that with declining enrollment and a high staff-to-student ratio, more cuts are needed to protect the city's working-class and fixed-income residents.
  • 1:39 Connie DeSanto
    As SPESPA President, she describes the staff as "soul crushed" and "spread so thin" even before the cuts. She invites the board to shadow staff to understand the current stress levels and questions how the district will handle staff burnout with fewer resources.
  • 1:45 Ralph Baxter
    A former board member notes the city's long history of supporting its schools and states that trying to cut the curriculum director is a recurring mistake that has failed in the past. He urges the current board to "own the budget" and advocate for what students need.
  • 1:48 Giselle Lopez
    A parent criticizes the lack of transparency and staff input in the budget process. She questions why student-facing positions are being cut while some administrative costs and salaries appear to be increasing, suggesting the cuts seem arbitrary.
  • 1:59 Jessica Crowley
    As a parent and a teacher in another district, she warns from experience that cutting programs like second lunch, SEL, and ESOL will directly harm hungry, traumatized, and non-English speaking students who rely on the school for these vital supports.
• 2:24
  Superintendent's Response to Public Comment (Superintendent Metheny)

  The superintendent addresses several questions raised during public comment. He explains the ongoing and difficult search for a permanent finance director, clarifies that substitute budget overages are driven by extended leaves, and details the administrative positions created in recent years.
• 2:32
  Final Board Comments

  Board members offer their concluding thoughts, reacting to the public comment and discussing the difficult path forward. They express appreciation for the community's engagement and grapple with the tension between educational needs and fiscal responsibility.

  • 2:32 Susan Rauscher
    In response to public concern, she assures the community that she and other board members are diligently reviewing the budget line-by-line. She emphasizes they are asking many clarifying questions offline to fully understand the budget before making any decisions.
  • 2:34 Elliot Wertheimer
    He questions why the district can ask for millions for an athletic complex bond but not for staff and operations. The superintendent responds that the facility is failing and unsafe, and that the bond's approval will ultimately be decided by the voters in November.
  • 2:43 Chair
    The chair expresses gratitude for the public input and shares her personal heartbreak over the proposed cut to the curriculum director position, which she calls the "best job in the district." While acknowledging the huge loss, she also expresses confidence in the remaining team's ability to move forward.
• 2:48
  Adjournment

  A motion to adjourn is made, seconded, and passed unanimously. The meeting is adjourned at 8:48 PM.