PORTLAND – Superintendent Jim Morse will present an $89.3 million budget for the coming school year that’s $2 million less than the budget passed last year and calls for 80 fewer positions.

The proposal reflects a previously anticipated $6 million reduction in state and federal funding in the budget year starting July 1.

This afternoon, Gov. John Baldacci restored $20 million in education funding resulting from unexpected revenue increases.

School Committee Chairman Peter Eglinton said the committee will decide in the coming weeks how Portland’s $1.35 million share of the additional funding will be used.

Positions eliminated include 44 teachers, 22 educational technicians, five food service workers, six secretaries, two custodial or maintenance staff members and one administrator.

Fifteen of the eliminated teaching positions will come from the special education program, which recently was the subject of a recent critical consultants’ review that recommended cutting 37 of 239 positions.

 


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