District will reclassify out-of-school learning role as part of new 21st Century program partnership

Dr. Atkinson, who manages the environmental and experiential out-of-school learning work, told the committee that a new 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant requires the district to hire a director for a program called Wayfinders and to transfer supervisory responsibilities that previously were held by the financial agent Learning Works to district staff. "This is a proposal that came because the responsibility of the position has increased significantly," Dr. Atkinson said, explaining the grant requires a director and additional supervisory duties.

Dr. Atkinson said the new grant pairs the district with Maine Audubon as the primary partner, shifts programming to align more closely with district curriculum updates, and is intended to increase student participation by allowing more Portland staff to be hired for site-based activities at Rowe and Talbot. She said the district expects to continue some partnership activities with Learning Works while assuming more oversight of the grants over time.

Finance Director Lisa Back said the approximate additional cost to the district of reclassifying the position (including benefits) is about $12,500. Committee members asked whether program content would change and how the shift would affect students; Dr. Atkinson said programming will be revamped and aligned with curricular goals and that early summer enrollment figures suggest the changes may increase participation.

Why it matters: The reclassification alters who supervises out-of-school programming and signals a shift of grant-managed activity into district oversight; it also creates a modest new personnel cost to the general fund and establishes Maine Audubon as a significant program partner for the Wayfinders initiative.

The committee received the update for discussion and informational purposes and did not take formal action at the meeting.