On April 28, Heather Perry, superintendent of schools in Gorham, presented the School Committee–approved budget to the Town Council. All members of the Town Council and School Committee were present, as well as many of the school administrators and town department heads.

Nicole Yeo-Fisher, school committee chair, described the budget process, which began in September and has included multiple reviews and discussions between school staff, administration and the board.

Perry presented the budget of $60,482,067, which is a 5.11% increase over the past year’s budget. In presenting the budget, Perry detailed the three major priorities of the process: maintaining a safe, modern environment for students; retaining a high-quality workforce; and necessary targeted student investments.

In this budget, the schools are reflecting negotiated contract increases, a 7.5% insurance increase, a 10% dental insurance increase, adding updated staff radios, district membership in Magic School: a safe AI space, increasing the art teaching position at Narragansett to full time, adding a kindergarten and first grade teacher at Narragansett, a .5 Modern Language teacher at GHS, added special education OT and speech services, 3 Transitions teachers, a social studies teacher at GHS, and an Early Intervention administrative assistant, as well as filling some equipment and training needs.

Perry outlined all of these needs and the rationale for making these requests. She also detailed all of the changes in revenue streams to the district. Through the budget review process, $1.6 million was previously reduced from administration requests, $315,000 from reductions to existing budget lines, and $558,000 through the School Committee review process.

Perry explained that the Gorham schools consistently seek to provide a balance between fiscal discipline and educational realities. Despite having the second-lowest per-pupil expenditure in Cumberland County, our test scores fall in the upper average of the county, just behind the top spending school districts. This proposed budget will result in an 85-cent increase on the mill rate. The Town Council will vote on the budget at their meeting on May 12 and the budget will go to public referendum on June 9.