Lewiston School Committee approves revised FY2027 budget with $1.17M in reductions, passes 8–1

Lewiston — The Lewiston Public Schools School Committee on May 18 voted 8–1 to approve a revised FY2027 budget proposal that includes $1,169,000 in additional reductions, sending the amended plan to the city council for its review as part of the referendum process.

Superintendent Jake Langley opened the budget discussion by citing the May 12 referendum, which returned a 1,092-to-1,463 split against the prior proposal. He said that outcome required the committee to find further local reductions and outlined where administration believes savings are achievable, while emphasizing the need to continue meeting state and federal requirements.

“We had 1,509 folks indicate it was too high,” Langley said of community feedback, and he explained the district’s approach to adjustments including projected savings from workers’ compensation changes, invoicing changes tied to the technical center (LRTC), and staff-position reductions.

Key reductions presented included potential workers’ compensation savings (administration estimated $330,000 realizable depending on transition timing), an LRTC invoicing/position change (about $108,000 net after subsidy), elimination of two special-education administrator positions ($294,000), reduction of a multilingual coach position that is slated to be vacant ($122,000), an EdTech vacancy ($45,000), technology and equipment reductions ($125,000), transportation savings ($95,000), and facilities and other adjustments. Langley acknowledged some savings depend on timing of contracts or reimbursements.

Public commenters urged caution about cuts that affect direct student services. Krista Saint Cyr, the district multilingual coach at the middle school, told the committee, “I am in classrooms every day. This cut will have an impact on the middle school and the high school,” and she urged the committee to avoid further reductions that remove staff who work directly with students.

Jay Rich, a multilingual teacher, urged committee members to advocate at the state level for better school funding and warned that the district cannot sustain continued local cuts without harm to programming and staff capacity.

Committee deliberations then focused on whether to reinstate some items (for example, the multilingual coach or one of two special-education administrative positions) or hold to the superintendent’s package. The chair conducted a series of informal thumbs-up/thumbs-down checks on subcomponents; a majority indicated support for the superintendent’s proposed cuts to the two special-education AP positions and for the multilingual coach vacancy reduction, but there was no majority for the proposed librarian reconfiguration.

Member Hurd moved — and Member Jensen seconded — a motion to approve the superintendent’s FY2027 recommendations with the additional reductions totaling $1,169,000. After discussion and public comment the superintendent called the roll. The motion passed 8–1; Ward 2 (Janet Bowden) recorded the lone no vote.

What this does: With the committee’s approval, the amended budget will go to the city council for its two readings; if the council advances the plan, the school budget will appear on the referendum ballot with the reduced local ask. Langley noted timeline constraints and urged continued public outreach ahead of the June vote.

Why it matters: The vote reduces the district’s local funding request and aims to reflect the May referendum’s result while maintaining compliance with legal mandates. Committee members and public commenters warned that further personnel cuts could reduce supports for high-need students and urged state-level funding reform.

Next steps: The committee’s approved proposal will be presented to the Lewiston City Council. The superintendent and administrators said they will refine implementation logistics and continue public engagement before the council hearings and the referendum.