April 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

  Chair DeAngelis calls the meeting to order, and the superintendent conducts the roll call of board members.
• 0:02
  Chair's Announcements (DeAngelis)

  Chair DeAngelis announces the resignation of Vice Chair Adrian Dowling and thanks him for his service. She also notes upcoming dates for a City Council budget workshop and future board meetings.
• 0:03
  Reconfiguration Delay Announcement (DeAngelis)

  The Chair announces that due to significant community feedback, there will be an action item on April 29th to halt the school reconfiguration for Fall 2026 and delay it until 2027. She notes there is strong board support for the delay and appoints members Smith and Richardson to the reconfiguration committee.
• 0:06
  Student Representative Report (Angela Kabisa)

  Student Representative Angela Kabisa provides an update on activities across the district. She highlights programs like Girls on the Run at Brown Elementary, a successful readathon at Dyer Elementary, and the upcoming Community Week at the high school.
• 0:10
  Recognition of Administrator of the Year (Dr. Entwistle)

  Superintendent Entwistle recognizes Bethany Connolly, Principal of Skillin Elementary, as the 2026 Maine Association of School Libraries Administrator of the Year. He praises her commitment to the library as a necessity and her work on creating a welcoming and representative collection.
• 0:16
  Recognition of SPHS Track Team (Coach Cahill & Board)

  Coach Cahill introduces the Championship Boys Indoor SPHS Track Team, praising their cohesive and supportive season. The board chair and superintendent then present certificates of achievement to each team member and coach.
• 0:31
  FY27 Budget Development Update (Abigail Ketchen)

  Director of Finance Abigail Ketchen presents a budget analysis sorted by location to clarify the financial impact of closing Kaler Elementary, estimating it as a $4 million reduction from the overall elementary budget. She also provides context on what different tax increase percentages would yield in dollar amounts for the district.
• 0:37
  Superintendent's Report (Dr. Entwistle)

  Superintendent Entwistle provides a brief update on district enrollment, noting it is nearly identical to the start of the year. He also formally announces the resignations of special education teacher Victoria Argese, grade 1 teacher Katelyn Field, and Brown Elementary Principal Beth Kellogg.
• 0:42
  Special Education & Staffing Update (Kat Cox)

  Director of Instructional Support Kat Cox explains the shift away from the embedded OT model, citing state caseload limits and the addition of other supports like BCBAs. She also discusses the ongoing challenges of hiring and retaining Ed Techs and outlines potential actions like referral bonuses and agency partnerships.
• 1:01
  Public Comment

  The first public comment session featured parents, teachers, and community members. Many speakers thanked the board for delaying reconfiguration but urged them to create a better process and provide support for the Kaler community. Others expressed frustration that the delay prolongs inequity and places an unfair burden on Kaler families.

  • 1:04 Sam Merrill
    As a parent and member of the disabled community, Merrill urged the board to consider the extra time and logistical challenges transitions pose for people with disabilities. He asked that this perspective be included in future planning for school transportation and scheduling.
  • 1:07 Sarah Gay
    Speaking as SPTA President, Gay expressed gratitude for the reconfiguration delay and shared teacher survey data indicating a lack of trust in the budget process. She stressed the urgent need to support the Kaler community, whose school is still closing, and ensure they know their placements as soon as possible.
  • 1:10 Aidan Renaghan
    A parent who advocated for the delay, Renaghan emphasized the need for the board to make a clear, data-driven case for future changes. He called for more targeted community engagement to gather input and more transparency about the trade-offs involved in any decision.
  • 1:13 Vladimir Korshin
    Korshin thanked the board for the delay and stated the focus should now be on the Kaler community. He questioned if it was still possible to keep Kaler open and suggested exploring a voter initiative or ballot measure to see if the city would fund it.
  • 1:15 Alex Strube
    Strube thanked the board for listening and asked them to articulate a broader vision for education in the district beyond just minimizing the harm of budget cuts. He urged the community to be involved in shaping what the district is trying to create for its children.
  • 1:17 Ralph Baxter
    A former board member, Baxter applauded the board for listening but expressed concern over recent turmoil, including a member's resignation and police presence at meetings. He recommended the board hold a facilitated workshop to set goals and work on a new, unified tone.
  • 1:20 Amy
    A Kaler parent, Amy described how the reconfiguration delay feels profoundly unfair to the Kaler community, which she described as one of the most vulnerable in the district. She stated that Kaler families are not afforded the luxury of more time and must bear the brunt of the disruption.
  • 1:22 Mindy Aloes
    A parent who served on the configuration committee, Aloes discouraged asking for more tax money and argued against the delay, stating the conversation is not new. She asserted that delaying reconfiguration is incredibly unfair to Kaler families and staff, who may now face two disruptive transitions in two years.
  • 1:24 Chloe Bartlett
    A third-grade teacher at Dyer, Bartlett described the stress and trauma staff have felt due to budget cuts and the loss of colleagues. She asked the board how they will ensure this process is not repeated for a third consecutive year.
• 1:25
  Public Comment Q&A

  The board and administration answered questions from the first public comment. The finance director clarified that while FY28 has many unknowns, she does not predict a crisis on the scale of this year. She also stated that keeping Kaler open is not a financially viable path forward.
• 1:32
  Finance Committee Report (Abigail Ketchen)

  The Director of Finance reported that with 75% of the fiscal year passed, 95% of funds are expended or encumbered. She projected a potential FY26 deficit ranging from $80,000 to $1.1 million, citing various spending increases and unresolved financial items.
• 1:42
  Other Committee Reports & Consent Agenda Votes

  The Policy Committee did not meet, but the board proceeded with a second read vote on a temperature policy. The Buildings & Grounds Committee reported its next meeting will be at Skillin. The board then unanimously approved the full consent agenda and the temperature policy.
• 1:46
  Board Discussion on City Council Budget Request

  The board discussed three potential requests to make to the City Council for the FY27 budget. Options included asking for a tax increase to restore staff, a tax increase for the contingency fund, or having the city absorb costs for shared services like SROs and snow removal.
• 2:01
  Board Votes on City Council Requests

  Following discussion, the board voted on two requests to present to the City Council. A motion to ask the city to offset $360,000 in shared service costs passed 4-1. A motion to ask for a 1% tax increase to be directed to the contingency fund passed unanimously.
• 2:19
  Board Discussion on Use of Potential Funds

  The administration asked for guidance on how to use the $360,000 in savings if the City Council agrees to offset service costs. After discussion, the board voted 3-2 to direct any such savings into the contingency fund, with two members preferring to restore cut positions.
• 2:26
  Vice Chair Election

  Chair DeAngelis nominated Member Smith to fill the vacant Vice Chair position following the resignation of Adrian Dowling. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
• 2:28
  Public Comment

  The second public comment session included questions about board processes and further advocacy. Speakers questioned the origin of a budget motion, advocated for restoring cut middle school programs, and debated the merits of tax increases versus fiscal restraint.

  • 2:29 Sarah Gay
    Gay asked who wrote the budget motion on the agenda, whether the district would offer exit interviews to departing staff, and if subcontracting ed techs costs more than hiring them. She also repeated her question about whether the board's goal is an "excellent" or merely "adequate" education.
  • 2:30 Meredith Diamond
    Diamond criticized what she termed the district's negligent decision-making and financial mismanagement, pointing to the projected $1.1 million deficit. She argued that financial solvency is a key strategy for equity and urged the board to take accountability for the crisis.
  • 2:33 Charlie Fox
    Fox expressed concern over the board's decision to direct potential savings to contingency rather than restoring teaching positions. He argued this devalues teachers and programs, hurts the district's reputation, and will make it harder to retain top educators.
  • 2:35 Caroline Bowman
    Bowman advocated for restoring the middle school related arts positions, highlighting the specific, positive contributions of the teachers being cut. She argued these programs are a critical safety net and source of belonging for students during their most volatile developmental years.
  • 2:39 Ed Cobb
    A resident and taxpayer, Cobb spoke against continued tax increases, calculating that a 6% annual increase would result in a $10,000 average tax bill in less than a decade. He argued that at some point, there must be a balance between educational wants and what taxpayers can bear.
  • 2:42 Morgan Kerr
    A Kaler parent, Kerr expressed disappointment with the decision to delay reconfiguration, arguing it misses an opportunity for the community to unite. She stated that if any other school were closing, she would support reconfiguration because it is what's best for all kids, not just her own.
  • 2:44 Vladimir Korshin
    Korshin spoke in favor of tax increases, arguing they are necessary to keep up with inflation and pay teachers a living wage for quality services. He urged the board not to be afraid to put tax increases on the ballot and let the voters decide.
  • 2:45 Lauren Shapiro
    Shapiro thanked the board for the delay but stressed that Kaler deserves to be part of the process. She raised concerns about rising class sizes, the loss of diverse educators, and the underreporting of dangerous incidents in schools, asking for more comprehensive data to be made public.
• 2:48
  Public Comment Q&A

  The board and administration addressed questions from the second public comment. They clarified the agenda-setting process, confirmed they would offer exit interviews to departing staff, and committed to providing a link to state data on school incidents. Board members also affirmed their goal is to provide the best possible education, not just an adequate one.
• 2:54
  Board Communications & Adjournment

  The board discussed the plan for continued listening sessions and the process for developing a transition plan for Kaler Elementary. The administration noted they would bring thoughts on a process to the April 29th meeting. The meeting was then adjourned.