The 2024-25 annual operating budget proposed by the Board and administration that goes to voters on June 11 includes $300,000 in new lease costs for modular classrooms that were added to MIW during summer 2023. These additional temporary classrooms were needed to accommodate our growing student population, as it has since 2015 when MIW began to outgrow its capacity. In addition to space, student population growth has necessitated hiring additional teachers, specialists, and support staff at the elementary level.
Despite a 7% increase in students over the last decade, the average annual budget expenditure increase has been 4.74% and the average annual mil rate increase has been held below the rate of inflation, at 2.72% in Cumberland and 2.64% in North Yarmouth, during this same time period. In other words, even with the demands of a growing district we have tried hard to be fiscally responsive to taxpayers.
On another note, each year staff members are invited to nominate colleagues who exemplify the attributes of MSAD #51's mission to meet each student's personal best. I am pleased to announce the finalists for the 2024 MSAD #51 Staff Member of the Year, who were chosen from 34 nominations across the district. Congrats to our finalists and all staff who were nominated for this honor (see below for finalists).