I hope your family was able to spend some time together during last week's break.
This is the first in a multi-part series about the district's budget for the 2026-27 school year. On April 15, the Board approved the draft budget and sent it forward for voter consideration at the upcoming district budget meeting on May 7. All registered voters in Cumberland and North Yarmouth are invited to attend and vote at this meeting, which ultimately sets the budget that the community will consider at the polls on June 9. The 26-27 budget includes, among others:
- $1.16 million in adjustments (mostly reductions) to my initial budget proposal, with a total budget increase of 5.46% over the current year's budget. With previously voter-approved debt backed out, the 26-27 operating budget increase is 4.22%.
- 2 additional classroom/content Teachers at GMS 6-8 due to enrollment and to assist with teaming structures.
- 1 additional Educational Technician for special education services (IEP requirement).
- Increasing a part-time School Counselor to full-time at GMS 6-8 due to enrollment and student needs.
- New Assistant Principal for grades PK-5 due to enrollment and the upcoming One Campus PK-8 grade configuration shift. The new AP will be reassigned to MIW (grades 2-4) in 2027-28.
- Pre-K Coordinator to assist with a new state mandate requiring local school districts to provide special services for all 3 and 4 year olds with IEPs.
- For more information:FY 27 Budget Summary Presentation (4.15.26)
As shown below, it should be noted that expenditures earmarked directly to the classroom account for 73.47% of the total budget, significantly higher than the state average of 69.24%. Despite bringing on a large portion of debt service related to the One Campus project, considerable effort was made to ensure that budget funds support direct services for students.
Next week's focus will be connecting the dots between the expenditure side of the budget to estimated tax calculations.