South Portland voters approve $76.2M school budget

 David S. Dari waits to cast his ballots at South Portland Community Center on Tuesday afternoon. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer) [](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) _[Read all of our coverage](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) of Maine's 2026 election or stay up to date with the latest developments through the [Maine Political Report](https://www.pressherald.com/mprnewsletter/) in your inbox or [text messages](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/01/11/maine-political-news-sent-right-to-your-phone-sign-up-for-text-alerts-from-our-editor/) from politics editor Kirby Wilson._ South Portland residents overwhelmingly approved the $76.2 million school budget by 5,787 to 1,975 votes. The budget will involve a 6% increase for taxpayers. Many city councilors and school board members said that this year’s budget season was particularly difficult and painful.  The board voted to close [James O. Kaler Elementary School](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/03/31/south-portland-will-close-kaler-elementary/) and [cut nearly 80 positions](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/03/09/south-portland-schools-could-cut-nearly-80-positions-2/) to shave off about $8.4 million to keep the tax increase to 6%. School board Vice Chair Adrian Dowling [resigned](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/04/07/vice-chair-of-south-portland-school-board-resigns/) days after [recall papers](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/04/07/recall-papers-taken-out-against-two-south-portland-school-board-members-2/) were taken out against him and School Board Chair Rosemarie De Angelis.   Kristina Grimaldi, the parent of a Helena H. Dyer Elementary School kindergartener, said as she exited the polls at the community center that she voted in support of the school budget. She said she’s been following the process pretty closely, so she’s seen that a lot of work has gone into it. “I feel like we need the budget to pass to achieve the necessary goals of the district,” she said. The district remains in flux.  Angela Atkinson Duina will start as the [new superintendent](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/28/south-portland-names-new-superintendent/) in July, and will oversee the reconfiguration of the school’s elementary schools, a move that was [delayed until the 2027-28 school year](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/04/29/south-portland-delays-elementary-school-reconfiguration/) after residents expressed concern. Copy the Story Link Tagged: [election 2026](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/dana-richie) [Dana RichieStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/dana-richie) Dana Richie is a community reporter covering South Portland and Cape Elizabeth. Originally from Atlanta, she fell in love with the landscape and quirks of coastal New England while completing her undergraduate. [More by Dana Richie](https://www.pressherald.com/author/dana-richie)