| Superintendent of Portland Public Schools, Mary Jo | | | | Portland Schools budget. Balanced with under spent |
| O'Connor announced that the Portland Schools have | | | | funds the district ended up overspending about $1.7 |
| exceeded their $81.7 budget by about 2%. This is | | | | million. Mandates Cause Deficit for Portland Schools |
| despite $500,000 in cuts made in May of 2006. | | | | The Portland Schools have been challenged to use |
| O'Connor explained that the increased spending was | | | | existing funds to meet No Child Left Behind mandates |
| due to factors beyond the control of Portland Schools | | | | along with district and state polices. When the Portland |
| officials. Unavoidable Increases for Portland Schools | | | | Schools committee initially voted to reduce the budget |
| O'Connor stated that the deficit was "regrettable but | | | | by $500,000 in April of 2006, there was expected |
| unavoidable". Federal and state education mandates, | | | | debate over where to make the cuts. Reductions |
| increased utility costs, and collective bargaining | | | | resulted the following areas: professional services |
| agreements were cited as causes of the huge deficit. | | | | $30,000; transportation and travel expenses $85,000; |
| Portland Schools has seen significant increases in | | | | books and supplies $165,000; oil and natural gas |
| energy costs and health insurance costs since the | | | | conservation measures $65,000; audiovisual and |
| budget was first approved. Portland Schools say that | | | | computer supplies $65,000; and deferred capital |
| all looked good with the budget until the end of May | | | | equipment purchases $60,000. Despite the publicity |
| 2007, when forecasts projected the year-end deficit. | | | | over the exceeded budget, the Portland Schools have |
| What happened? In the fall of 2006 the Portland | | | | seen many positive outcomes result from changes |
| Schools approved the hiring of over 7 new Special | | | | over the last few years. The Maine Initiative requiring all |
| Education positions to fulfill state and federal mandates. | | | | students to take the SATs in their junior years raised |
| Also, in November the Portland Schools Committee | | | | the bar for graduation requirements. And the Maine |
| approved a collective bargaining contract at 3%, rather | | | | program that provides Apple laptop computers to |
| than the projected 2.5%. The figures show that | | | | middle school students has been widely successful. Still, |
| Portland Schools spent an additional $625,000 meeting | | | | the Portland Schools will face increased pressure to |
| the Special Education requirements. That number | | | | insure that the budget numbers are aligned for the |
| includes transportation services and out-of-district fees. | | | | coming school year. According to the Superintendent, |
| The collective bargaining increases added an extra | | | | "It is now our task, on behalf of our students, parents |
| $675,000 to the Portland Schools budget. Electricity | | | | and taxpayers to balance the realities of limited |
| increases, higher than expected bus maintenance, and | | | | financial resources with the goal of providing quality |
| increased health insurances costs added up to | | | | education...." |
| $625,000. Finally, the cost of purchasing software to | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, |
| comply with updated standards from the Maine | | | | providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and |
| Department of Education added $80,000 to the | | | | private K-12 schools. |