Portland Public Schools officials told the board’s Public & Legislative Affairs Committee that draft changes to the state’s EPS funding formula (LD 2226) would likely boost funding for most districts and could add $1–2 million for Portland, but they warned the revisions would not fully recover recent state funding losses and implementation timing is uncertain.
Portland Public Schools staff and board detailed a Parent University series (starting March 12) and a King Middle School community engagement session (March 11), agreed to prepare a budget primer and FAQs, and planned one‑slide topic overviews to maximize Q&A time.
Staff told the Curriculum and Student Success Committee that PowerSchool data reveal wide variation in secondary grading (scales, cadence, cut scores) that complicates comparisons, transfers and may create inequities; the committee directed staff to form a task force to develop a recommended districtwide grading policy for 2027–28 implementation.
An ad hoc committee met March 6 to finalize an RFP draft, added cultural-competency criteria and vendor qualifications, set submission and question deadlines, and voted 3–0 to advance the RFP to legal review and publication steps.
Facilities staff reported extensive corrosion and thinning in Lincoln Middle School's forced‑hot‑water piping; the district will commission a Harriman study to evaluate repair or replacement options, which could take 6–12 months and require the building to be vacant during work.
Community members and staff told the board proposed budget cuts to counselors, ed‑techs and librarians would harm students; speakers urged delaying consolidation votes and prioritizing direct student supports over central‑office growth.
The board reviewed MEPRI recommendations to update Maine’s EPS funding formula — including regional adjustments, accounting for economic disadvantage and special‑education/transportation costs — while discussing advocacy strategies to offset an estimated $4.1 million drop in state funding for FY27.
After hours of public testimony and debate about equity and walkability, the Portland Public Schools board voted to approve the attendance‑boundaries committee recommendations. The motion passed by roll call; several community members urged further work on Longfellow‑Roe lines and a future review trigger for utilization.
Committee members reviewed several items on this week's legislative calendar — a credentialing bill affecting education personnel, a proposal described as '21 29' to ensure schools have complete employee/applicant information, a statewide 'bell-to-bell' cell phone ban work session, and a separate teacher minimum-salary bill — and agreed staff should prepare a brief letter about the district's exception policy.
Portland Public Schools told its Public & Legislative Affairs Committee it faces an estimated $4,100,000 drop in state EPS funding and reviewed MEPRI recommendations that could reallocate funds through regional adjustments, alternative valuation/income weightings, higher disadvantaged-student multipliers and special education funding changes.
