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MSAD 51 board sets district budget meeting for May 7, validation referendum June 9; approves contracts and capital priorities
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Summary
At its April 15 meeting, the MSAD 51 board approved warrants to call a district budget meeting on May 7 and a validation referendum on June 9, voted unanimously on teacher contract renewals and approved appointment of a middle‑school principal; Superintendent Jeff presented a revised FY27 budget totaling $56,767,888.
The MSAD 51 Board of Directors voted on April 15 to call a district budget meeting for 7 p.m. on May 7, 2026, and to set a district budget validation referendum for June 9, 2026. The motion to approve the warrants and notices, moved by board member Kim and seconded by Jesse, authorized the superintendent to complete and file the notice of amounts adopted with municipal clerks; the board recorded a unanimous vote in favor.
Superintendent Jeff presented the district’s revised FY27 draft budget and supporting materials. The superintendent said the proposed total stands at $56,767,888, a 5.46% increase over the current year and down from an earlier March draft of $57,931,581 (a 7.63% increase). He said a substantial reason the line decreased was new local health‑insurance information: the local rate came in at 6.01% rather than the previously budgeted 15%, producing about a $624,462 reduction compared with the March projection. The superintendent also said he added $150,000 to salary contingency lines to address expected FMLA, long‑term substitutes and retiree payout needs.
Key budget figures and funds cited by the superintendent include an unallocated fund balance of about $3,350,000 to help offset debt service in FY28–30, an emergency fund balance of $1,239,006.41, and federal grant receipts expected to total roughly $996,774 this year. The superintendent described proposed capital items outside the general fund: a new high‑school intercom ($180,000), a previously approved revolving renovation shortfall (~$131,001.80), and a track resurfacing reserve (estimated up to $200,000 until contractors firm up an estimate). He said the district would propose transferring a $250,000 fuel‑reserve balance to capital reserves at the district budget meeting.
At the meeting the board approved several personnel actions. The board unanimously approved continuing contracts for teachers moving from year two to continuing contract status under state law, and it unanimously approved probationary teacher contract renewals for the 2026–27 school year. The board also unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Cece Poe as principal of Greeley Middle School, effective July 1, 2026, after a search with 15 applicants and a multi‑stakeholder interview panel.
The superintendent summarized next steps: budget workshops and a public district budget meeting on May 7; the adopted budget will then go to the polls at the June 9 validation referendum. Board members thanked the finance staff and committee for extensive background work and for providing detailed spreadsheets that underlie budget line items.
Votes at a glance - Motion to call district budget meeting and district budget validation referendum (05/07/2026 meeting; 06/09/2026 referendum): mover Kim; second Jesse; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Continuing teacher contracts (2026–27): approved (unanimous). - Probationary teacher contracts (2026–27): approved (unanimous). - Appointment of Greeley Middle School principal (Dr. Cece Poe): approved (unanimous). - Motion to enter executive session on negotiations with MSAD 51 Education Association (MRSA 405(6)(D)): approved (unanimous).
The district will post budget materials and the superintendent said a budget brochure compiled by administrative staff is available online; he encouraged registered voters in Cumberland and North Yarmouth to attend the May 7 district budget meeting.
