| Superintendent of Portland Public Schools, Mary Jo | | | | standards from the Maine Department of Education |
| OConnor announced that the Portland Schools have | | | | added $80,000 to the Portland Schools budget. |
| exceeded their $81.7 budget by about 2%. This is | | | | Balanced with under spent funds the district ended up |
| despite $500,000 in cuts made in May of 2006. | | | | overspending about $1.7 million. |
| OConnor explained that the increased spending was | | | | Mandates Cause Deficit for Portland Schools |
| due to factors beyond the control of Portland Schools | | | | The Portland Schools have been challenged to use |
| officials. | | | | existing funds to meet No Child Left Behind mandates |
| Unavoidable Increases for Portland Schools | | | | along with district and state polices. When the Portland |
| OConnor stated that the deficit was regrettable but | | | | Schools committee initially voted to reduce the budget |
| unavoidable. Federal and state education mandates, | | | | by $500,000 in April of 2006, there was expected |
| increased utility costs, and collective bargaining | | | | debate over where to make the cuts. Reductions |
| agreements were cited as causes of the huge deficit. | | | | resulted the following areas: professional services |
| Portland Schools has seen significant increases in | | | | $30,000; transportation and travel expenses $85,000; |
| energy costs and health insurance costs since the | | | | books and supplies $165,000; oil and natural gas |
| budget was first approved. Portland Schools say that | | | | conservation measures $65,000; audiovisual and |
| all looked good with the budget until the end of May | | | | computer supplies $65,000; and deferred capital |
| 2007, when forecasts projected the year-end deficit. | | | | equipment purchases $60,000. |
| What happened? | | | | Despite the publicity over the exceeded budget, the |
| In the fall of 2006 the Portland Schools approved the | | | | Portland Schools have seen many positive outcomes |
| hiring of over 7 new Special Education positions to fulfill | | | | result from changes over the last few years. The |
| state and federal mandates. Also, in November the | | | | Maine Initiative requiring all students to take the SATs in |
| Portland Schools Committee approved a collective | | | | their junior years raised the bar for graduation |
| bargaining contract at 3%, rather than the projected | | | | requirements. And the Maine program that provides |
| 2.5%. The figures show that Portland Schools spent an | | | | Apple laptop computers to middle school students has |
| additional $625,000 meeting the Special Education | | | | been widely successful. Still, the Portland Schools will |
| requirements. That number includes transportation | | | | face increased pressure to insure that the budget |
| services and out-of-district fees. The collective | | | | numbers are aligned for the coming school year. |
| bargaining increases added an extra $675,000 to the | | | | According to the Superintendent, It is now our task, on |
| Portland Schools budget. Electricity increases, higher | | | | behalf of our students, parents and taxpayers to |
| than expected bus maintenance, and increased health | | | | balance the realities of limited financial resources with |
| insurances costs added up to $625,000. Finally, the | | | | the goal of providing quality education. |
| cost of purchasing software to comply with updated | | | | |