On April 15, after unanimous support from the School Committee, Heather Perry, Gorham Superintendent of Schools, submitted a budget request of $60,483,408 to the town.  This request represents a 5.11 percent increase and will result in an 85-cent increase on the mill rate.

The school administration and School Committee have worked for months on this budget.  The process has included reviews at the building levels and administrative level as well as weekly meetings through the month of March.  The next steps in the process are a joint meeting between the School Committee and Town Council on April 28, the Town Council vote on May 12 and a community referendum vote on June 9.

The cost drivers for the increase are threefold: 1) to maintain the current level of services, 2) the CIPS (Capital Improvement Plan) budget for necessary facilities maintenance and improvement and 3) initiatives based on shifting student needs. In the initiatives part of the budget proposal, there are replacement of radios for school safety; some equipment replacement; some training; the purchase of a safe, closed-environment AI system; and nine teaching positions throughout the system.

The average per-pupil expenditure in Cumberland County is $23,998.51, and Gorham ranks 14th out of 15 school systems in the county with a per-pupil cost of $20,304.51. Gorham continues to strive to provide quality educational services at a lower cost than many of the neighboring towns.

Superintendent Perry has held a series of community forums in the town to review the budget. In addition, members of the public are encouraged to visit the school website to review the budget, the entire process and videos of School Committee budget discussions.  To view online, go to gorhamschools.org, click on “About us,” choose “School Committee” and find the links to School Budget Information.