Current Status
The board has approved a budget that includes cuts to social-emotional learning funding. This decision came despite earlier board consensus and public support for restoring three elementary SEL teacher positions.
Overview
- On June 3, 2025, the board voted 4-2 to approve the budget, which included the cuts to social-emotional learning funding that had been debated.
- During the March 31, 2025 meeting, the board reached a strong consensus to restore the three elementary Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) teacher positions, even considering cutting a central office director role to fund them.
- Board members and teachers strongly advocated on March 24, 2025, for restoring the three elementary SEL teachers, which had been cut in the proposed budget.
- The budget proposed on March 17, 2025, included the elimination of the SEL positions amidst significant financial pressure on taxpayers.
Perspectives
Board
- A board member voted against the final budget on June 3, 2025, specifically to protest the cuts to SEL funding.
- Previously expressed strong consensus on March 31, 2025, on the desire to restore the three elementary SEL teacher positions.
- Debated eliminating the Director of Mental and Behavioral Health position as a way to fund the restoration of the SEL teachers.
Administration
- The administration's proposed budget eliminated the SEL teacher positions to address overall budget constraints.
- The superintendent highlighted the significant financial pressure on residents, noting a potential 38% school tax bill increase for the average homeowner over two years.
Staff
- Teachers spoke during public comment on March 31, 2025, overwhelmingly supporting the restoration of SEL positions.
- On March 24, 2025, teachers strongly advocated for restoring the three elementary SEL teachers, highlighting them as critical for student support.
Citizens
- Parents and students voiced overwhelming support for restoring SEL positions during public comment on March 31, 2025.
- A public commenter on March 17, 2025, noted the difficult financial proposition of any budget increase for taxpayers, especially those on fixed incomes.
Key Resolutions & Votes
| Date | Motion | Result |
|---|---|---|
| June 3, 2025 | To authorize that $28,543,963 be expended for regular instruction (Item 3.1). | Passed |
Meeting History
June 3, 2025
June 3, 2025 — School Board Meeting — SPSD
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.
March 31, 2025
March 31, 2025 — School Board Meeting — SPSD
Board Deliberations on Restorations
A primary focus of board deliberation was the restoration of student-facing positions cut from the budget. There was strong consensus on the desire to restore the three Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) teachers at the elementary schools, with members also advocating for ESOL staff and a high school social studies position.
Board Deliberations on Funding Sources
To fund restorations, members debated cutting or reducing central office leadership. Eliminating the Director of Mental and Behavioral Health position to pay for the SEL teachers was a leading proposal. Reducing the DEI Director to a coordinator role was also discussed.
Public Comment Highlights
Public comment featured teachers, students, and parents who overwhelmingly supported restoring SEL and curriculum positions. Speakers also voiced concerns about the impact of cuts on vulnerable students and debated the fairness of the proposed administrative salary freeze, with some seeing it as solidarity and others as punitive.
March 24, 2025
March 24, 2025 — School Board Meeting — SPSD
Restoring Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Curriculum Director Positions
Board members and teachers strongly advocated for restoring three elementary SEL teachers and the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. These positions were highlighted as critical for student support and instructional cohesion, though they add significant costs back into the budget.
March 17, 2025
March 17, 2025 — School Board Meeting — SPSD
Curriculum Leadership Concerns
Multiple speakers, including teachers' association representatives, strongly opposed the elimination of the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. They argued the position is essential for maintaining academic standards, supporting teachers, and ensuring equity, and that distributing these responsibilities among other administrators is not a viable long-term plan.
Taxpayer Burden
The superintendent and a public commenter highlighted the significant financial pressure on South Portland residents. The presentation showed an average homeowner could see a 38% increase in their school tax bill over two years, largely due to property revaluations, making any budget increase a difficult proposition for taxpayers, especially those on fixed incomes.
Second Lunch Program Elimination
The proposed budget eliminates the second lunch option for students, a $150,000 program. While the board had previously supported this, they seemed to accept the cut as a necessary trade-off to preserve staffing, with the hope of providing shelf-stable snacks through community partnerships.