Portland school leaders present FY2026 budget with proposed music, literacy hires and contingency cuts tied to benefit premium uncertainty

Committee Chair Sarah Bridal called the Portland, Maine, Board of Public Education Finance, Operations & Personnel Committee to order at 6:03 p.m. Tuesday and opened the meeting with a public comment from Steven Sharpe of Brackett Street, who urged the committee to review the budget “with a fine tooth comb.”

Superintendent Dr. Scallon led the committee through the fiscal year 2026 proposed budget, saying the total is $171,700,000 and that it is “aligned to the strategic plan.” Dr. Scallon described three principal additions in the proposed local budget: two new music teachers for Portland High School and Deering High School, a targeted increase of 10 general‑education education technicians focused on kindergarten early literacy, and a set of proposed staffing and nonpersonnel reductions that could be implemented if medical premium increases exceed assumptions.

Why it matters: the district told the committee that its health‑benefit premiums — managed through the MEA Trust — may be substantially higher than the 6% increase budgeted. The district said the MEA Trust indicated premiums could rise as much as 18 percentage points; the presentation estimated each 1 percentage point above 6% would add about $110,000 to the budget. The committee was shown a list of proposed reductions that would together reduce the budget by about $824,000 before any changes to the early‑literacy ed tech pilot or new reading specialists are considered.

Details on proposed program changes and costs

- Music: The budget would add one music teacher at Portland High School and one at Deering High School. Dr. Scallon said the district proposes adding “$200,000 to the local budget factoring in the average teacher salary and benefits.” She noted Casco Bay High School currently lacks a full‑time music teacher and said staff are discussing scheduling changes (for example, offering band or orchestra first period at Portland and Deering) so some Casco Bay students could access music offerings.

- Early literacy ed techs: The FY2026 proposal includes a pilot adding 10 general‑education education technicians to focus on kindergarten and early literacy at six Title I elementary schools. Dr. Scallon said the average ed‑tech salary used in the budget is $38,200 with benefits of $22,800, for a total pilot cost of roughly $610,000. The presentation described the pilot’s intended duties: supporting transitions to school, leading CKLA instruction during the literacy block (October–June) and supporting small‑group instruction.

- Reading specialists: The proposal also includes reading specialists at East End and Reiche (two schools identified by the district as benefitting from additional support). The district estimated a single reading specialist saves or costs about $99,000 in average PEA‑member salary and benefits when used for budget tradeoffs.

- Benefits and contingency planning: Dr. Scallon told the committee that the district’s employer medical contribution currently totals about $22.7 million and that the district budgeted a 6% increase. The MEA Trust has warned premiums could rise far higher; the district presented a model showing 12 percentage points above the budgeted 6% would add roughly $1.32 million. Dental costs are smaller (about $800,000) and are subject to a two‑year agreement capped at 7%, which the district estimated would add roughly $70,000 if it hit the cap.

- Proposed reductions: To prepare for higher premiums, the district compiled a prioritized list of nonpersonnel and personnel adjustments that cabinet members and department leaders reviewed. The presentation grouped potential reductions that together total approximately $824,000 (before adjustments to the ed‑tech pilot and reading specialists). Examples included delaying some contracted curriculum work, reducing certain external program evaluations, shifting principal development spending, reducing some multilingual staffing from 2.0 FTE to 1.6 FTE for acquisition specialists (saving roughly $82–$83K), reducing one night custodial or evening float position in facilities, and not filling one vacant transportation bus‑driver position (projected savings $131,000). Dr. Scallon emphasized each reduction would reduce capacity or services and that these are tradeoffs the district is presenting for board consideration.

Other operational items discussed

- Foundation support: The Foundation for Portland Public Schools has offered additional fundraising support for nonpersonnel academic items (the superintendent gave examples including partial support for the mobile makerspace teacher in prior years and potential support for music instrument repairs and Wabanaki and Black history work).

- Student hotspots and IT: The district currently budgets about $14,000 for student hotspot service and suggested eliminating that line because staff capacity to manage distribution is limited and many devices are unused in storage. The foundation could be asked to consider one‑time support, but recurring operational costs are more difficult for a fundraising group to sustain.

- Special education staffing: The FY26 budget as presented included hiring an additional physical therapist (bringing the total to 4 FTE) and an additional occupational therapist (to 10 FTE). As a tradeoff, the district proposed reducing each of those additions by 1 FTE and instead contracting for targeted services (including adding $25,000 in contracted services for each area) if recruitment proves difficult.

- Facilities and transportation: The proposed budget adds back some facilities capacity lost in FY25, but the contingency list reverses some of that re‑addition depending on the final benefits costs. Transportation has experienced turnover; the district has 22 bus drivers and one position has been vacant much of FY25. District staff said they have avoided canceling runs but sometimes double or triple routes to cover gaps.

Board member questions and public comment

Public commenter Steven Sharpe (Brackett Street) asked the superintendent and committee to review the budget carefully and encouraged “a vigorous process of reviewing the school board budget.” Board members asked clarifying questions about how specific proposed reductions would affect operations and student supports, whether the foundation could cover some recurring costs, how the early‑literacy pilot might scale, and when final benefit premium numbers would be available. Dr. Scallon said final premiums are typically not available until late March or early April and that the committee’s draft decisions the week of March 17 would feed a board vote on March 24.

How decisions move forward

The committee agreed to reconvene on March 17 to give members time to consider tradeoffs and return with specific amendment requests; the superintendent said that timetable would allow staff to prepare adjustments for the board vote on March 24. Committee Chair Sarah Bridal closed the meeting and a motion to adjourn, made by Board Member Lena and seconded by Board Member Auberman, was approved by visual show of hands; the committee adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Ending note: The district described the FY2026 proposal as a budget that balances strategic investments (music and early literacy pilots, targeted high‑school supports, special education capacity) against the risk of materially higher employer health‑premium costs. Committee members expressed particular support for preserving early‑grade reading supports and expressed caution about substituting contracted services for hard‑to‑hire special‑education positions.