On Monday, May 24 at 6:30 pm, residents of Cumberland and North Yarmouth are encouraged to attend the next MSAD 51 School Board meeting. The meeting will include time for parents to give input regarding the plan to return to full in-person learning for 2021-22 school year.
Click the following for Agenda and Draft Reopening Plan.
Link to attend meeting virtually is HERE.
Ways to participate in a Virtual School Board meeting Important: Be sure to include your name and town of residence if you are a MSAD #51 resident, or position if you are an employee.
If you would like to speak during public comment, request access to the school board meeting
WITH a Google Account: email request to join to msad51schoolboardmeeting@msad51.org
WITHOUT a Google Account: Create a FREE Google Account and then request to join using that new google account
Please contact the Central Office (Superintendent’s Office) at 829-4800, if you need assistance.
In Other School Board News
School Funding
During the May 10 School Board meeting, Superintendent Porter commented on the cost impact of COVID-19 mandates on the district.
Porter asserts that Greely is disadvantaged in its efforts to adapt in person learning to comply with current state mandates on COVID-19. He argues that the method for determining aide grants was inequitable and exacerbated the current space issues, particularly within Mabel I. Wilson. Special Federal funding to schools to help alleviate the cost of implementing safety protocols has been dispersed using Title I formula. As a relatively affluent community, MSAD 51 has received relatively small funding grants in comparison to other districts in the state. However, the allotments are in line with neighboring districts, such as Yarmouth, Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth, which also have smaller proportion of students participating in free or reduced lunch program than other regions in Maine.
Breakdown of allocations for all Federal COVID funding programs to Main schools can be found here: ESSER and CRF.
Capital Expenditures
The MSAD 51 School Board is considering multiple capital expenditure projects. Notably, a bond for the plan to expand the elementary school is anticipated to be on the November ballot. The current proposal is preliminarily estimated at $36.4M. This estimate is based on building cost in 2019 and does not reflect current, higher industry prices. The School Board is also considering sports field upgrades. Other recent capital measures include expansion of Middle School to incorporate Grade 4 & 5 following closure of NYMS and the Performing Arts Center addition to the High School. Approved bonds were $2M (2013) and $9.5M (2016) respectively.
Porter described the rational for adding a turf field to the current Greely campus as a necessity related to current school space limitations. Neighboring districts boast turf fields. The proposed project only encompasses the current football field area and is estimated to cost $1.5M. This is for field installation only and does not include any additional costs for other structures and improvements, such as modifications to the maintenance shed. Track, field hockey, and ball field areas would not be upgraded. A portion of the green space adjacent to the Middle School will be occupied by portable trailers for the 2021-22 school year. Eliza Miller & David Shapiro (Athletics Advisory Board) presentation to the School Board, on May 10, stated a potential of tenfold increase of field usage with a turf field upgrade. However, it is unclear if this goal will be achieved, as practice and game scheduling would require continued use of The Twin Brooks Recreational Fields. The school board will be reviewing the proposal and will also consider whether to incorporate it into the New Elementary School Building Capital Project. If approved by the School Board, a bond could be placed on November ballot. The earliest the turf field project would kick off is January 2022, with an estimated completion for start of 2022-23 school year.
Budget
MSAD 51 School Board has approved budget for 2021-22 school year. It will go before voters on June 8. The proposed budget is an approximate 1% increase over previous budget. Included is funding for 6 new teaching positions and portable trailer rentals to support the smaller class size and distancing elements of the plan for return to full in-person learning for 2021-22 school year. The school board and Porter have committed to maintaining class size and distancing requirements for the return to in-person, regardless of whether state removes the restriction.
Additionally, the School Board added a non-lapsing COVID-19 contingency fund. Allocated to this budget line is $350,000 to address needs related to COVID-19 restrictions. In subsequent years, use of the allocation can be transferred to the general fund for other periods of financial emergency determined by public vote. This funding is separate from District Reserve Fund and unallocated balances.
Residents are encouraged to contact the School Board with any questions regarding the proposed Budget.
Copy of school budget that will appear on June ballot is HERE.
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