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In a reversal, the teachers union in Portland is now encouraging voters to support the district’s budget at the polls next week, after district leaders committed to adding back five support positions and reducing administrative costs next year.

The Portland Education Association called on city voters last Tuesday to reject the district’s budget, which will be voted on by referendum on June 9. The union’s executive board decried the cutting of six “essential, student-facing support positions” and called the budget “too top heavy” with high-level administrative positions.

But the union and school district both released statements Tuesday, announcing that the administration had agreed to propose bringing back five educational technician positions at the school board’s next finance committee meeting, and to look at reducing the central office budget next year.

“Recent constructive dialogue with district leaders and the subsequent commitments secured
have led us to this change in position,” the union said in its statement. “We appreciate that the district listened to educators and that its own review produced changes that put resources where students need them.”

Portland voters usually support the school budget by wide margins, although the percentage of supporters has been declining each year since a peak of 86.4%% in 2020. The city has not rejected a budget in more than a decade, according to city clerk records, or possibly ever; union President Kerrie Dowdy said last week that the union had never before called for a “no” vote.

It may be a contentious budget year for districts around the state, due to factors like rising healthcare costs and declining enrollment. Voters in Lewiston and Turner have already rejected their budgets.

The district said it welcomed the newfound support from the union, and that a recent review of next year’s enrollment showed a need for five additional specialized ed tech positions. Portland is anticipating slightly more state and federal revenue than it expected, and will be able to add those five staff members without additional cost to taxpayers, the district said.

“We are grateful to the educators, families, staff, community members, and labor partners who engaged with us this season,” the district said. “That input strengthens our budget, and we look forward to building on that work together in the year ahead.”

The union said in its statement that the district has committed to bring recommendations to reduce central office costs next year, and that it will closely watch to see that process through. The district said it continues to find efficiencies, and will recommend those cuts during the Fiscal Year 2028 budget cycle.

The union’s concerns related to the addition of new chief and assistant superintendent roles, including the creation of a third assistant superintendent position.

Superintendent Ryan Scallon said Abdullahi Ahmed, the current assistant superintendent of secondary schools, has moved into the newly created third assistant superintendent position — for student, family and community engagement — and that the district has filled the secondary schools position he vacated; Scallon said they plan to announce that hire in the coming week.

Angela Atkinson Duina, the current assistant superintendent of elementary schools, revealed last week that she would depart the district to take the helm in South Portland in July. The district is currently advertising for that job, and Scallon said they hope to fill it by next month.

Absentee voting began on May 11. The city said last month that 650 voters who returned their ballots before the city council finalized the budget would have to re-do their votes.