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School committee approves homelessness policy, CIP reallocations and LRTC cost-sharing formula
Summary
At its Jan. 22 meeting the Auburn School Committee approved updated regulations on students experiencing homelessness (with language amendments), reallocated unspent CIP bond funds to three projects, and adopted a cooperative funding formula for LRTC; the consent agenda was also approved.
The Auburn School Committee unanimously approved a consent agenda and several formal actions during its Jan. 22 meeting, including updated policies and budget adjustments, committee members said.
The committee approved an updated policy titled AUBJFABD, Education of Students Experiencing Homelessness, and the accompanying regulations (AUBJFABDR). During review members moved two friendly amendments to replace the word “children” with “students” in the regulations and to remove the phrase “trailer parks” from a definition. The committee voted to adopt the policy and the amended regulations.
The committee also approved an updated capital-improvement (CIP) bond budget that reallocated unspent funds from a prior CIP bond to pay for three projects: a security/fire-alarm upgrade at Washburn School, re-engineering of storm drainage at the bus garage/Industry Avenue area, and a $35,000 tilling/mowing machine for the high-school ball field. Committee members said the funds come from previously bonded, unallocated CIP balances and that the change has no effect on the operating budget.
Separately, the committee approved an updated cooperative agreement for the Lewiston Regional Technical Center (LRTC) that adopts a funding formula based on each sending district’s enrollment percentage. Committee discussion said the formula will equitably share cost and results in Auburn’s expected FY26 contribution of approximately $74,800 to cover its share of costs beyond state allocations.
Votes recorded in the meeting were summarized by motions and chair statements; the transcript does not include roll-call vote tallies. The consent agenda (approval of the meeting agenda and Jan. 8 minutes) was moved, seconded and approved at the start of the meeting.
Motions and outcomes (as recorded in the meeting transcript): - Consent agenda (approve meeting agenda; approve minutes of Jan. 8, 2025): approved (mover not specified; second recorded as “Quinn”; outcome: approved; vote counts not specified). - Approve policy AUBJFABD, Education of Students Experiencing Homelessness (second reading and approval): approved (motion carried; vote counts not specified). - Approve regulations AUBJFABDR as amended (changed “children” to “students”; removed “trailer parks” from definition): approved (motion carried; vote counts not specified). - Approve updated CIP budgets to include Washburn security system, bus-garage roof leaders/drainage and ball-field machine: approved (motion carried; vote counts not specified). - Approve updated cooperative agreement for LRTC adopting enrollment-based funding formula: approved (motion carried; vote counts not specified).
Committee members noted that policy language mirrors federal McKinney-Vento terminology and that a related bill is under consideration in the Maine Legislature. The committee also received a district update noting that identified McKinney-Vento students increased from 156 on Jan. 22 last year to 178 this year.
The meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.
