Superintendent reported that South Portland Public Schools enrolled 2,771 students for the 2025–26 school year and said total enrollment declined by “about 80,” with roughly 77 fewer students at the high school.

The superintendent apologized publicly for recent payroll errors, saying, “I do apologize for that and I assure you that we will correct those errors as quickly as humanly possible.” He told the board staff are considering an audit of payroll procedures to prevent a repeat.

The superintendent and the finance committee said an external audit of the district’s finances is scheduled to begin the week of Sept. 15. Finance Committee member Claire told the board that current budget reports understate encumbrances in the accounting software used by the city and the school system; encumbrances must be tracked manually in the software now, she said. Claire said the fund balance may already be largely committed as of July 1 and that clearer numbers should emerge after auditors complete their work.

Board members and district staff said they will review operational spending for potential savings while delaying any personnel-level decisions for the moment. The superintendent listed spending areas that staff will examine, including utilities, large planned purchases and overtime, which he said “has experienced a pretty large increase.” He said the work will proceed in coordination with the town finance director and the district’s finance committee.

Director of Finance Abigail Ketchin was acknowledged for stepping into the role recently and producing tentative projections that have been shared with the finance committee and town finance staff. Board members asked for ongoing updates as the audit progresses and as staff refine deficit estimates.

The board did not take any formal budget action at the meeting; members said they expect the audit results to inform any future decisions about cuts or other financial measures.