South Portland school board cuts 25 jobs
More study will be given to proposals to consolidate middle schools, charge for extracurricular activities and outsource custodial services.
By Ann S. Kim akim@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
SOUTH PORTLAND — Twenty-five positions were cut as part of the $41.1 million school budget unanimously approved by the Board of Education on Monday.
The job losses were not as severe as the 31 proposed by Superintendent Suzanne Godin last month. The board also decided, for now, against implementing plans to consolidate the middle schools, adopt a “pay-to-participate” policy for extracurricular activities and outsource custodial services. Those areas will instead by studied by task forces.
Budget deliberations took place under the shadow of a significant reduction in state education aid, decreasing revenues and increased costs. School officials expected to lose almost $1.7 million in state education aid this year but learned that the district would receive $622,560 more from the state than expected. They also learned that they would be spending about $473,000 less on health insurance than anticipated.
The property tax rate for the school side of South Portland’s budget would increase 13 cents to $9.65 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. That increase stems from $506,623 included in the budget as seed money for a secondary school capital reserve fund for future debt service costs.
Out of the job cuts proposed by Godin, the board reinstated six positions: a high school guidance education technician, a central office administrator, a middle school physical education teacher, a dispatcher/driver, a part-time high school English teacher and a part-time nurse.
Even so, 23 people stand to lose their jobs. Only two of the targeted positions are currently vacant. The cuts include teachers in special education, home economics, science and technology integration; assistant coaches, ed techs, a guidance counselor, a truck driver and a clerk.
Other reductions include middle school football and the closing of Hamlin School, which is expected to be converted to offices for municipal planning and assessment.
The board on Monday also accepted the Secondary Schools Facilities Committee’s $41.9 million high school construction and renovation plan. The vote was 6-1, with Jerald McQueeny opposed.
The new plan is scaled down from the $56 million proposal voters rejected in 2007. The new version eliminated the artificial turf field and second gymnasium, cut 29,000 square feet and has less classroom space.
The discussion included questions about whether voters would accept even the less-expensive plan in these economic times and whether more details of the project’s financing should be in place before the board accepted the plan.
Board Chairman Rick Carter said accepting the plan would provide a baseline to work from.
“We need to move the process forward. I believe this is the first step,” he said.
In order to bond the project, the plan would have to be sent to the City Council and to a voter referendum. The timeline for those steps hasn’t yet been established.
Staff Writer Ann S. Kim can be contacted at 791-6383 or at: akim@pressherald.com
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25 COMMENTS
DasBoot said...
25 jobs is a good start but far from the right number.
March 9, 2010 at 5:43 AM Report abuse
mohonk said...
I did not see any management positions in the list
March 9, 2010 at 5:55 AM Report abuse
HARRY said...
More Maine Jobs bye bye.
March 9, 2010 at 6:52 AM Report abuse
RickD said...
Washington DC is burying our children and generations to come with mountains of debt, and here in Maine we are cutting their education to make up for poor management from the local to state level. So much for the State of Maine and the Democrat party in power honoring its duty to fund 55% of the cost of education. Although, since Maine seems more interested in becoming the nations first bona fide welfare state, I guess they won't need jobs so that means no need for education either.
March 9, 2010 at 7:35 AM Report abuse
jack33 said...
I noticed the school board didn't cut any of their OWN jobs. They should be required to remove one of their own, too. (Since they do have access to an expert from Survivor, the board could vote whom to outcast and make money from selling advertising for the telecast).
March 9, 2010 at 7:44 AM Report abuse
Mase said...
RickD, Do you honestly believe, as your post suggests, that if republicans were in power they'd see to it that the state honored its obligation to increse funding to 55%. What nonsense.
March 9, 2010 at 8:00 AM Report abuse
Mohoboibi said...
.....kick out all the marginal dropout students and then you won't need those support jobs...
March 9, 2010 at 8:06 AM Report abuse
RickD said...
Masse, 35 years of almost total Democrat control in Maine is far too long and voters need to finally smarten up and clean house. Did I say anything about Republicans doing better no, but we certainly know for a fact the Democrats can't do the job. The only nonsense is sending the same people back to Augusta.
March 9, 2010 at 8:29 AM Report abuse
SL said...
More Maine jobs gone bye bye??? These are tax generated jobs, how about, more money in my pocket to spend? SP has to many schools, but that is what the voters wanted...so now we have all these schools and fewer funds to staff them, now that is forward thinking! The HS is a disgrace but the plan they have put forth will fail because they have placed to many 'programmatic wishes' in it. It amazes me how so many bright and educated people just don't get it. I can't wait to see the city side budget..cut cut cut.
March 9, 2010 at 8:59 AM Report abuse
Bicycle2Work said...
Why did they table the consolidation of middle schools? If that would save money, then consolidate, or at least study it. Don't table it...
March 9, 2010 at 9:12 AM Report abuse
CEMan said...
RickD, that is D-M-O_C-R_A-T-I-C party. Do try and concentrate eh? Your party proved themselves no better at the job in DC so let's be real and admit no one person or party can solve problems okay? Do try to be an adult. I love this moronic idea that outsourcing saves money. That is a totally bogus claim that no one can prove with real evidence. It is simply coporate welfare. Taking my tax money and slipping it into a for profits hands.
March 9, 2010 at 9:13 AM Report abuse
RickD said...
CEMan, spoken like a true elitist. Although one that seems a class or two short of your grammar degree. You also don't seem to fully comprehend what you are reading, or quite possibly your assumptions about my party affiliation would be accurate. I was stating Democrat as an insult, as the “D-M-O_C-R_A-T-I-C” (spelling a problem for you as well?) party has been for the past 35 years here in Maine.
March 9, 2010 at 9:44 AM Report abuse
singer said...
Why is it that you never cut any from the top? How many people do we need to "manage" the school dept.? Instead you use scare tactics and say you have to cut teachers. Plus saying you have to cut sports always get the parents riled up and mad. I don't know when sports seemed to become more important than education, but that seems to be the way it is today. Anyway, I'm sure you can find some management jobs to cut and that will save both sports and education. I think the Superintendent of schools should not make so much money during these hard times.
March 9, 2010 at 9:51 AM Report abuse
ProConserv said...
Good! 25 less liberal moonbat teachers that will brainwash our children with their progressive agenda and condom handouts!
March 9, 2010 at 10:16 AM Report abuse
gowens said...
I so hope that the posters here are the fringe.. I'd hate to think that this hate is all there is.. If you guys really feel as strongly as you do about Maine, move to NH..
March 9, 2010 at 10:27 AM Report abuse
root66 said...
Rick D maybe you should run.You seem to have all the answers
March 9, 2010 at 11:19 AM Report abuse
ModerateOne said...
RickD, your post is an argument for more government spending, at least on English classes.
March 9, 2010 at 11:54 AM Report abuse
sierra-tango said...
Outsourcing the custodial services is a good start, but why stop there? Outsource transportation too. Or, if that's too politically dangerous, why not consolidate transportation with Scarborough and/or Cape Elizabeth? All three towns would save a ton of money. Just because South Portland isn't mandated by the state to consolidate with other towns doesn't mean it's not a good idea. Sure, a couple of dispatchers and transportation directors would lose their jobs... but if it means that teachers can keep their jobs and the kids get to keep their bus drivers and the same classes they're taking now, shouldn't we at least consider it? In Maine we really go overboard with our obsession with local control. And it's not exactly working out very well, is it?
March 9, 2010 at 12:20 PM Report abuse
SL said...
ProConserv...if you had it your way schools would be run by profiteering companies. Creationism, abstinence only and nationalism would be the only subjects taught. That would guarantee your movement a whole mess of uneducated voters that think our country is 'right', regardless of how wrong it is. Oh wait, that's 90% of the south!
March 9, 2010 at 12:23 PM Report abuse
joeybrooks11 said...
Thank Baldy for this and his weak economic development team for the lack of bringing a huge tax base of private business, ie more tax money for schools. Oh yeah, Baldy was educated at the biggest high school enrollment in the state, Bangor. Figures. The day he cleans out his desk and his cabinet of liberal fools take off. I'll be sooo happy. Where are the true democrats? They're not in power right now. THose idiots want to turn Maine into Vermont.
March 9, 2010 at 12:27 PM Report abuse
Godless said...
Meanwhile, I just walked past a South Portland school bus that was visiting a business, and the bus was idling with no kids inside. What a waste of gas/money. I imagine this is not the norm, either. I know that by turning off the engine, you won't save enough to save 25 jobs, but it is a start. There are always savings to be found, if people just think and use common sense.
March 9, 2010 at 12:40 PM Report abuse
sierra-tango said...
Godless: I'm fairly certain that SoPo has an anti-idling policy for their buses. Why not call the transportation office and report it?
March 9, 2010 at 12:54 PM Report abuse
wollydevil said...
If i were you people i would keep an eye on Texas they will decide what will be in the text books for the rest of the united States. The outfit that publishs the books for them because they are the biggest buyer of books in the United States an they do not print text books for each states an they print the books for all schools in the USA so its you either takes these or nothing at all.
March 9, 2010 at 1:43 PM Report abuse
Mainedog said...
Need to cut 25 more or how about just getting rid of the super and his staff. That should save half to three quarters of a mill!
March 9, 2010 at 4:39 PM Report abuse
DasBoot said...
Do I hear 50 jobs!
March 9, 2010 at 6:10 PM Report abuse