Windham-Raymond board hears budget updates; one budget sheet corrected for missing state subsidy

WINDHAM, Maine — The Windham-Raymond School District Board of Directors on March 18 heard a series of budget presentations from building leaders and a nutrition report, and staff supplied an updated budget spreadsheet after discovering it omitted anticipated state subsidy data.

The superintendent told the board that one worksheet in the budget book was missing anticipated state subsidy information tied to the ED279 state reporting form and that an updated copy would be circulated. He said the district’s working spreadsheets used for town-level tax-impact calculations were correct.

"This is the only spreadsheet that actually has that connected to it," the superintendent said, adding that work with the two towns on potential tax impact used correct files.

High school Principal Ryan Karen described a maintenance-focused operational budget and said enrollment is expected to be slightly lower next year while FTEs show a 2% increase driven by reallocation (including Virtual High School staffing). Karen said the high school is not seeking new full‑time positions but requested small line-item increases — for example, $1,000–$1,500 for graduation costs and $3,000 for student activities to support groups such as robotics and quiz bowl.

"We're not looking to add any staff," Principal Ryan Karen said, noting some reallocations and modest boosts for student activities and summer‑school administration.

Middle‑school principals described similar, largely reallocation‑based budgets. Windham Middle School Principal Greg Applestein said two or three positions had been moved under different columns for nomenclature reasons and that he planned to shift a sixth‑grade teacher to seventh grade to match projected enrollment. Jordan Small Principal Michelle Brun said the district is expanding a shared "bar coordinator" role across both middle schools and shifted smaller amounts into STEM to support outdoor education ($2,000).

Nutrition director Jeannie Riley reported the meal program serves about 3,600–4,000 breakfasts and lunches daily and operates outside the general fund. Riley said the nutrition budget includes a 10% buffer for food and supply cost volatility and described recent use of a Maine local‑foods fund that reimbursed 50 cents per dollar on local purchases (up to $11,000).

Riley said equipment upgrades funded through a previous Healthy Meals incentive grant addressed many needs, but the district moved a Manchester walk‑in cooler project into next year and plans to replace a freezer to expand storage.

The finance committee reminded the board that contracted wage increases, stipends and health insurance are the primary drivers of projected budget growth and said more detailed committee-level work will continue on March 31.

The board took no formal votes tied to budget adoption at the meeting; presentations were for review as part of the district’s budget process.