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State legislators tell MSAD 52: don’t expect big new education funding in short session
Summary
Visiting legislators told the MSAD 52 board that while the state shows a surplus, competing spending priorities and a short session make major new education funding unlikely; they urged local engagement on EPS, construction grants and special-education funding options.
Visiting state legislators told the MSAD 52 school board on Monday that the upcoming short legislative session is unlikely to deliver large, new education funding and urged local officials to stay engaged in committee hearings.
“I think the first thing you can buy is a bigger and better crystal ball,” said state Sen. Jeff Timberlake, summing up the uncertainty around which spending proposals will survive the session. Timberlake said the state currently reports a surplus but faces many competing requests and “we don't know where that's gonna go.”
Why it matters: Board members have sent a list of local priorities to Augusta that include school construction, the EPS (Essential Programs and Services) funding formula and rising special-education costs. Those issues will shape whether MSAD 52 can secure state support for capital projects and program adjustments.
Legislators and board members discussed a pending construction bill that may require local matches. Board members warned that requiring large community contributions would make state assistance unattainable for many smaller or rural districts. Representative Sheila Lyman, who served for decades as a teacher in the district and is the minority lead on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, urged the board to get residents and educators to testify: “The more voice that's coming directly from the field … was unbelievably impactful for the discussion,” she said.
On EPS, Lyman and board members acknowledged the formula's complexity and regional tensions. Timberlake described a long-running debate over whether southern districts are advantaged in the formula and predicted continued contention: “That’s gonna be the fight that that is there … enough of them yet in the southern part of the state?”
Special education was a recurring concern. Board members and legislators discussed the possibility of billing MaineCare for some services but noted the administrative capacity required and the risk of repayment if errors occur. Board staff and representatives described regionalizing some special-education administrative functions as a potential path for smaller districts.
Board members also asked about parental-rights bills and other proposals that could affect enrollment, curriculum and student services. Timberlake and other legislators recommended monitoring committee testimony and said they would forward bill lists and resources to the district so the board and community can weigh in.
Next steps: Legislators said they would send the board lists of education bills and recommended that district leaders encourage teachers, principals and families to testify at public hearings. The board asked legislators to compile and share answers to the district's written questions.
