Special Meeting

Tuesday, June 3, 2025
6:00 PM · South Portland High School Lecture Hall
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Votes & Actions
SOURCE: Transcript (Unofficial)
Motion Result Moved / 2nd
To authorize that $28,543,963 be expended for regular instruction (Item 3.1).
Passed 4-2
Ratliff, Rauscher
To approve budget cost center items 3.2 through 3.11 as a group.
Passed Unanimous
DeAngelis, Dowling
To approve budget action items 3.12 through 3.19 as a group.
Passed Unanimous
DeAngelis, Dowling
Meeting Summary
  • Special Meeting Purpose: The Superintendent explained that the special meeting was necessary to approve the budget articles ahead of the City Council's budget vote, due to an accelerated timeline this year compared to previous years.
  • Superintendent's Report: The Superintendent announced the resignations of Erica Matio (Director of Curriculum), Samantha Matoya (Social Studies), and LB Murphy (Student Engagement Coordinator), thanking them for their service. He also promoted an upcoming community food drive.
  • FY26 Budget Action Items: The Superintendent read all 19 budget action items into the record, covering the 11 cost centers, appropriations, local contributions, debt service, and capital improvement plan, totaling over $73 million.
  • Voting Procedure: The Board agreed to a proposal by member DeAngelis to vote on the first budget item (Regular Instruction) separately and then vote on the remaining items in two large blocks to expedite the process.
  • Vote on Regular Instruction (Item 3.1): The board voted 4-2 to approve the Regular Instruction budget. Board member DeAngelis stated she was voting no to protest the cuts to social-emotional learning funding within that budget line.
  • Votes on Remaining Budget Items: The board voted unanimously to approve the remaining budget items, which were bundled into two groups: cost centers 3.2-3.11 and action items 3.12-3.19.
  • Board Comments: Board members expressed appreciation for the administration and each other's work during a difficult budget process. Member DeAngelis noted that disagreement is a healthy part of representing the community, and the board was glad to move the budget forward to the City Council.
Detailed Proceedings

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
    Meeting Start and Call to Order
    The special meeting of the South Portland School Board is called to order by the chair.
  • 0:00
    Roll Call
    The board conducts a roll call, with all members present except for one.
  • 0:00
    Public Proceeding Statement (Chair)
    The chair reads a statement regarding the public nature of the proceedings and Robert's Rules of Order.
  • 0:01
    Superintendent's Report (Superintendent)
    The Superintendent explains the purpose of the special meeting is to approve budget articles ahead of the City Council's vote. He also reviews the upcoming budget calendar and announces three staff resignations, thanking them for their service.
  • 0:04
    Community Food Drive Announcement (Superintendent)
    The Superintendent announces a community food drive taking place on the upcoming Saturday from 10 AM to noon, with drop-offs at the South Portland Police Department.
  • 0:05
    Reading of Budget Action Items (Superintendent)
    The Superintendent begins a formal reading of the 19 budget action items that the board will vote on.
  • 0:05
    Cost Center Items 3.1-3.11 (Superintendent)
    The Superintendent reads the 11 cost center expenditure items, starting with Regular Instruction and ending with All Other Expenditures.
  • 0:06
    Appropriation and Contribution Items 3.12-3.13 (Superintendent)
    The Superintendent reads the items to appropriate the total cost of education under the EPS Funding Act and to raise the city's contribution.
  • 0:08
    Additional Local Funds Item 3.14 (Superintendent)
    The Superintendent reads the motion to raise over $17 million in additional local funds, outlining the reasons for exceeding the state's EPS funding model.
  • 0:10
    Final Action Items 3.15-3.19 (Superintendent)
    The Superintendent concludes by reading the final five items, authorizing total expenditures, adult education funding, and the FY26 Capital Improvement Plan.
  • 0:13
    Board Discussion on Voting Procedure
    The board discusses how to efficiently vote on the 19 items. They agree to separate item 3.1 for an individual vote and then group the rest.
    • 0:13 DeAngelis
      I have a parliamentary inquiry. Is it possible to hold out item 3.1 for a separate vote? That is the only one I would like to set aside.
  • 0:14
    Vote on Item 3.1 (Regular Instruction)
    The board moves, discusses, and votes on the Regular Instruction budget item after it was separated from the others.
    • 0:15 DeAngelis
      I will be voting against this item because this is where the money would have been for social emotional learning. In order to be consistent with my concerns, I wanted this item to be separate so I could vote no on it.
  • 0:16
    Vote Result for Item 3.1
    The chair calls the vote, which passes 4-2, with the student representative also indicating opposition.
  • 0:16
    Vote on Items 3.2-3.11
    The board moves to group items 3.2 through 3.11 and then votes unanimously to approve the block of cost center budgets.
  • 0:17
    Vote on Items 3.12-3.19
    The board moves to group the final items, 3.12 through 3.19, and votes unanimously to approve this final block of budget articles.
  • 0:18
    Audience of Citizens
    The chair opens the floor for an audience of citizens. No members of the public come forward to speak.
  • 0:18
    Board Comments
    Board members offer brief concluding remarks on the budget process before adjourning.
    • 0:18 DeAngelis
      I know this has been a really difficult process and I appreciate the work of all my fellow board members. I think disagreement is representative of our community and that's an important thing. I appreciate that we're moving this budget forward.
    • 0:20 Rauscher
      I just want to express appreciation for the administration and all of the folks involved in constructing this budget. I'm glad it's all done and we're on to the next step.
  • 0:20
    Adjournment
    A motion to adjourn is made and seconded. The board votes unanimously to adjourn the meeting.