1.
What’s different
about Portland’s school budget process this year?
For the first time ever, a
referendum will be held on the Portland Public Schools budget. Voters must approve the referendum in order
for it to take effect. The budget
has already won the approval of the Portland School Committee and the Portland
City Council.
2.
Why will there be a
referendum on the school budget?
The
School Administrative
Consolidation Law approved by the Maine Legislature in 2007 requires that
every school district hold an up or down vote on its budget. Specifically, voters must approve the
portion of their school budgets that cover kindergarten through twelfth-grade
classroom instruction, administration, special education, transportation,
equipment and supplies and professional development. That portion of the budget is designated as Essential Programs
and Services (EPS).
3.
Why is the public
voting on only part of the school budget?
Maine’s School
Administrative Consolidation Law requires that the referendum take place on
the portion of the school budget that covers kindergarten through twelfth-grade
classroom instruction, administration, special education, transportation,
equipment and supplies and professional development. That portion of the budget is designated as Essential Programs
and Services (EPS).
The referendum vote will not cover
parts of the fiscal year 2009 school budget that are funded by grants and
individual donations. Also excluded are
programs such as the Multilingual and Multicultural Center, Portland Adult
Education and the Portland Education Partnership that are ineligible for state
education aid. These grants are Federal
grants and are regulated through grant applications and monitored by State and
Federal officials.
4.
What if the
referendum fails? How will that impact
the Portland Public Schools?
The Portland City Council will
schedule another referendum, at a cost to taxpayers of approximately
$35,000. Additional referenda will take
place, if needed, until a school budget wins voter approval. If a budget referendum is not successful by
July 1, 2008, the start of the fiscal year, then the last budget approved by
the Portland School Committee will take effect temporarily.
Communities that have needed multiple votes to win approval of their school budgets find that it greatly complicates school planning, demoralizes staff and impacts the school district’s reputation. Election costs can be considerable as well.
5.
What is the impact of the Portland Public Schools
budget on Portland taxes?
The Portland City Council unanimously approved a fiscal year 2009 budget of $89.5 million - a 4.5% expenditure increase over fiscal year 2009. Due to an increase in state education aid to Portland, the estimated impact on Portland property taxes is a 2.1% increase over last year.
6. What
is being done to cut costs/find efficiencies?
Maine’s new School Administrative Consolidation Law requires school districts such as Portland to submit an “alternative plan” to the Maine Department of Education for review. Portland’s plan identifies several areas where the district is pursuing creative ways to stretch resources:
· The Portland Public Schools plans to close its supply warehouse on Homestead Avenue, sell the assets and purchase directly from vendors, as the city does. Savings is estimated at $60,000 in the fiscal year 2009 budget.
· The plan calls for South Portland School Department’s bus garage to take over the maintenance of Portland’s fleet from a commercial garage. The change is expected to save the district nearly $60,000 annually.
· City staff will maintain the school department’s boilers and air-conditioning systems, for a savings of $50,000 annually.
· The role of learning strategists will be redefined, resulting in a savings of $200,000 in the fiscal year 2009 budget.
Portland is exploring two initiatives with area districts that could result in significant savings and revenue generation in future years:
· Opening Portland’s professional development programs to area educators at a fee, reaping the district an estimated $20,000 per year.
· Expanding West School’s special education services. West could enroll up to five tuition-paying students from other districts, bringing in up to $110,000 per year.
7. How will the district ensure
that next year’s school budget isn’t overspent?
The fiscal year 2009 budget adequately reflects the true costs of each program and service offered in the Portland Public Schools. In addition:
· Portland Public Schools has hired a new finance director, Herbert Hopkins, who has many successful years of experience in school financial management,
· The Portland Public Schools business office is working more closely with the city’s finance department to ensure prompt and accurate monthly reconciliations to more effectively monitor both revenue and expenses,
·
The School Committee has set a policy that includes
regular budget status reports throughout the year.
8. How
will the district control costs from higher teacher salaries due to the new
professional development salary schedule?
The district and the local teachers’ union, Portland Education Association (PEA, remain committed to the new professional development salary schedule in the teachers’ contract. Highly skilled teachers who are continuous learners are better able to meet the needs of their students. Yet, we also recognize the need to make changes in the agreement to allow for better budget projections.
The district is also working with the Portland Education Association to ensure that the new salary schedule is implemented as cost effectively as possible.
9.
How has the school department planned for energy prices in the
next budget?
The Portland Public Schools partners with the city of Portland to “lock in” fuel prices at this time of year for the next fiscal year. Needless to say, energy prices are up significantly over last year and those increases have been projected in the budget.
In addition, the district has had continued success in
reducing energy use:
· The Portland Public Schools entered into a performance contract in 1998 that resulted in the replacement of more than 13,500 light fixtures, the installation of a system-wide direct digital controls network, five oil burner upgrades, a central kitchen equipment retrofit, a boiler replacement, an electrical service upgrade and two 40 horsepower motors at PATHS being replaced with high efficiency counterparts.
· In August 2007 the Portland School Committee adopted an energy policy that reaffirms the occupied heating set point at 68 degrees Fahrenheit and cooling set point at 74 degrees.
· The East End Community School uses a six-panel solar array to minimize energy costs. The district is in the process of adding a 21-panel solar array at Lincoln Middle School,
· At Portland High School, more than 90 exit lights were converted to more energy efficient LEDs.
The results:
· Overall, oil purchases have dropped from a high of 704,000 gallons in fiscal year 2001 to 530,000 gallons last year.
·
Annual electrical consumption decreased by 630,000Kwh from
fiscal year 2003 to fiscal year 2007.
10.
How will the budget affect programming?
The budget maintains the differentiated programming for all Portland’s students. The cuts minimize the effects on students by slightly increasing class size and eliminating under-enrolled programs.
However, the district was
not able to fully fund English Language Learners and athletics or to increase
allocations for building maintenance, textbooks, technology and basic supplies
- areas that have been under-funded for a number of years. The needs are real, but balanced with the
need to be fiscally responsive; the needs are not addressed in this budget.
11.
Why is the budget going up even though enrollment is declining?
The budget continues to rise despite declining enrollment for these reasons:
· The Portland Public Schools is committed to “assuring that all students are learning for their futures.” Some of today’s students come to school with significant needs that must be met in order to ensure their learning. Meeting those needs requires additional resources.
· Federal and state mandates (NCLB) often come with no additional state or federal funding putting pressure on local school budgets,
· There are fixed costs with the Portland Public Schools (i.e. building maintenance) that do not decrease based upon enrollment.
·
The total increase on the taxpayer is less than the
inflation rate.
The fiscal year 2009 budget includes $600,000 to repay half of the money borrowed from the city last year due to a budget shortfall. The budget also includes a one-time expense of $500,000 to change the way that teacher salaries are accrued.
12. How
much of the total budget is funded by the state of Maine? The federal
government?
The state of Maine under the Essential Programs and Services (EPS)
funding formula is expected to fund approximately $14,924,590. Revenues from the state increased by 21.0%
over last year.
Portland expects to receive approximately $6,912,700 million in funding from the federal government.
Other revenues, however,
are projected to decrease. Federal
legislation regulating Medicaid reimbursements as well as reduction in state
agency client revenues will continue to significantly impact special education
revenues.
13. What is
included in this budget for building maintenance?
The building maintenance budget totals $375,500 and includes:
· Buildings – Repair and Maintenance - $140,500
· Maintenance Projects (under $50,000) - $200,000
· Asbestos Abatement - $25,000
·
American with Disabilities Act Improvements - $10,000
14.
How do health insurance premiums affect this budget?
The district’s health insurance premium costs are expected to increase by
4.8% next year.
15.
What support is there for purchase of computers in the budget?
Because the Portland Public Schools budget has faced numerous budget challenges over the past few years, the funds allocated for textbook replacement and learning-based technology experienced consistent cuts. The district was unable to fill the gap in the fiscal year 2009 budget.
Therefore, Portland Public Schools, upon approval by the Portland School Committee and Portland City Council, plans to fund both textbooks and learning-based technology through a $500,000 Classroom Improvement Bond. The purpose of the bond is to replace outdated and decaying textbooks and to purchase technology to facilitate both teaching and learning. Modern technology systems can not only connect students within a classroom, but also connect students to the outside world. In addition, such technology mirrors what many students will face once they graduate from high school.
Items purchased through the annual bonds must last the length of the payback period (five years).
16. What is the impact of the budget
on staffing levels?
The fiscal year 2009 budget eliminates 48 locally funded positions to reflect declining enrollment and to reduce under-enrolled high school offerings.
17. How
will the approved budget affect class size?
Portland Public Schools has a fairly transient student population. As the student population stabilizes over the summer, classroom sizes will be monitored and adjustments made at each school as necessary to maintain a productive class size and student/teacher ratio.
The Portland School Committee’s current policy on class size will remain the same for fiscal year 2009 but under-enrolled classes and some high school electives will be eliminated. Portland’s class size remains under the state maximum size regulations.