Amid budget cuts, South Portland school board approves $12K payment for assistant superintendent

Maine School Board Cuts 80 Jobs and Closes Elementary to Keep Tax Increase at 6 %

In a move that has rattled parents and teachers alike, the board of the local school district approved a sweeping budget‑cut plan that will see one elementary school shuttered and nearly 80 teaching and support positions eliminated. The decision, announced earlier this year, was made to shave roughly $8.4 million from the district’s budget, a figure that keeps the planned property‑tax hike at 6 % instead of a higher rate.

The board’s resolution was passed in a close vote after the district’s finance committee presented a detailed cost‑analysis. “We needed to make tough choices to preserve the fiscal health of our schools without imposing a larger burden on our taxpayers,” the committee’s report read, noting that the tax increase could have risen to 7 % if the savings had not been realized.

The elementary school slated for closure serves a small community of students in the district’s outer suburbs. While the exact name of the school was not disclosed in the release, district officials confirmed that it has an enrollment of fewer than 200 students. The decision comes amid a broader statewide trend of district consolidation, as many Maine school districts face shrinking enrollment and mounting operational costs.

“Closing the school and cutting positions is a painful decision, but it is a necessary step to keep our schools financially viable while avoiding a steeper tax increase,” said a board spokesperson. The spokesperson added that the district would explore alternative uses for the school’s building and offer support to displaced staff, including severance packages and job‑placement assistance.

Parents have expressed concern over longer travel times for students and the loss of a community hub, while teachers and staff face uncertainty over job security and career prospects. The district has pledged to hold community forums over the next weeks to address these concerns and to discuss potential strategies for maintaining quality education under the new budget constraints.

The tax increase, now set at 6 %, will take effect in the coming fiscal year. Residents will see the adjusted rate reflected in their property tax bills, which the district claims will remain comparable to the current levels when the savings are accounted for. The board has stressed that the decision was driven by a desire to protect taxpayers while ensuring that the district can continue to provide a safe, well‑equipped learning environment for its students.

The closure and job cuts are scheduled for implementation in the upcoming school year, with the district planning to reallocate resources toward critical programs such as special education and technology upgrades. As the district navigates these changes, community members will likely weigh the short‑term hardships against the long‑term stability promised by the board’s budget plan.