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Committee approves $1.15 million transfer to cover special-education contracted services
Summary
The Portland Maine Board of Education Finance, Personnel & Operations Committee voted unanimously Feb. 9 to move $1,153,695 from special-education personnel to contracted services to cover vacancies that have required outside providers.
The Portland Maine Board of Education Finance, Personnel & Operations Committee unanimously approved a transfer of $1,153,695 from special-education personnel to special-education contracted services at its Feb. 9 meeting.
Chair Sarah Bridal moved to approve the transfer, saying it was necessary to cover contracted services used where positions have been difficult to fill. Lisa Beck, head of finance, told the committee that board policy requires committee approval for large budget transfers and that the requested amount represents an estimate of what the district needs for the remainder of the fiscal year to cover contracted services.
Committee members asked whether such transfers require committee approval or should go to the full board. Beck said the committee had handled similar transfers in the past. Superintendent Doctor Scanlon and staff noted the policy language is somewhat vague and that the committee could refer a transfer to the full board for public reasons, but there was no referral this evening.
Board member Opperman seconded the motion. The vote was recorded as unanimous: Opperman, Sautel and Chair Bridal voted yes and the motion passed.
The transfer moves budget authority within the special-education fund from personnel to contracted services to pay outside providers filling roles the district has not been able to staff. Beck said the change is an administrative shift to fund contracted services through the end of the fiscal year.
The committee did not identify additional offsets or program eliminations associated with the transfer; staff said larger budget tradeoffs for FY2027 are still under review. The committee will consider FY2027 budget recommendations in meetings through March, with a committee vote to send the recommended budget to the full board planned for March 23.
Ending: The committee approved the transfer and continued work on the FY2027 budget; the next committee meeting is scheduled for Feb. 23.
