Dear Friends,

On Tuesday, June 9, Westbrook residents will have an opportunity to vote in the annual school budget referendum. The vote reflects the school department’s FY27 budget that was passed by both the School Committee and City Council this spring. It totals $57,213,026 in the general fund plus $659,665 in adult education, representing a 7.24% increase in year over year costs and an increase to the tax rate of approximately 6.92%. There were over 30 hours of meetings in which the School Committee carefully reviewed every request and every line of the budget, asking questions, and seeking additional information to make sound decisions. The budget page of our website provides tons of information, but I would like to share some key points about the budget here.

The budget represents forward thinking and careful stewardship. It includes several measures that will result in savings and increased revenue next year and in years to come. 

* The FY27 budget represents a small but necessary amount of growth and an expansion of programming. While we always respond to student needs and adjust programming accordingly, we must look to the future and target programs that will support our students and community for years to come. Remaining stagnant does not support students or the overall program. One of these is the new Pre-K program which will offer an exceptional school experience for our four year olds and will provide early intervention, an important boost in literacy and numeracy skills. This will set a more solid foundation for learning and higher achievement and reduce the needs for supplemental instruction in later years.  At WRVC, we are introducing two new programs: CTE Exploratory and a Cooperative Education Program. By including the Exploratory program, we introduce students to different trades, engage with them earlier, and encourage more of them to enroll in full programs later in high school. By initiating internships through Cooperative Education, we connect students with career pathways and area businesses to provide additional real world experience that will support them as they complete high school and consider their next options of higher education and work. 

* By expanding programming with PreK and at WRVC, we increase our number of students and increase our per pupil subsidy. This is realized in the annual student count and reflected in the Essential Programs and Services (EPS)  formula. We anticipate enrolling at least 64 additional students through PreK. Additionally, we are only responsible for funding the general education PreK teachers and ed techs. The State of Maine provides full funding for special education teachers, ed techs, and service providers as well as classroom material, equipment, and furniture. This is an incredible savings as we start up a program. Similarly, the expansion of WRVC programming not only provides greater options and pathways for students but also increases enrollment which results in higher per pupil subsidy for Career and Technical Education in the EPS formula. 

* With the installation of solar panels at Congin and Saccarappa this year, we have begun to generate energy which has been sold back to providers. Panels are scheduled to be installed at WMS and WHS in the next few months. We anticipate revenue realized as savings annually even after debt service is paid on the installation. Additionally, we are working with Revision Energy and Siemens to complete several projects that will enhance efficiency and lower costs.

* We have eliminated several positions including two instructional coaches, the Equity Resources Coordinator, an Alternative Learning Teacher at WHS, and a maintenance position. We carefully review the needs for open positions and make adjustments according to needs. We continue to have a lean administration. With over 500 employees, only 5% work as school, department, and district leaders. 

* The relationship between the School Department and City Hall and between the School Committee and City Council is collaborative and strong. It has resulted in efficiencies through shared services and contracts. We appreciate working with the Mayor, city administration, and city council to create efficiencies in services. This includes maintenance and facilities projects, community services, and funding for School Resource Officers. 

The budget increase of 7.24%  is due to three main factors:

1)  Increased personnel costs: With 509 employees in addition to substitutes, coaches, and contracted service providers, we are a large employer. About 80% of our operating budget costs involve personnel. Most employees fall under Collective Bargaining Agreements which are multi-year contracts that include competitive salary and benefits packages. As a school district, it is important to stay competitive with other schools in Cumberland County in order to attract and retain outstanding employees.  Salaries and wages include cost of living and experience increases.  Benefits have a 3.75% increase in FY27.

2) Increased programming to meet student needs and legislative mandates: We are a complex school system. We have the highest number of students experiencing poverty and the highest number of students with disabilities in Cumberland County. We have the third highest number of students developing English proficiency in the state. Our programs are comprehensive and include learning experiences in core subjects as well as the arts, career and technical education, wellness, and social development. Our student needs continue to grow particularly in special education where we have included a new high school special education teacher and two educational technicians to support elementary special education programs as well as transportation staff to support them. Some of our students’ needs are more significant than we can support within our schools so we must pay tuition to special purpose programs whose costs continue to rise every year. We have included an additional English teacher at WHS to provide courses, particularly for advanced students. We have added two new programs to WRVC and have expanded our PreK program. All of these meet the needs of our students.

3) Reorganization to account for the instability of federal funding. For years, federal funding has been fairly stable. In the last few years, Westbrook has seen significant decreases or stagnant funding that is unpredictable, causing us to reorganize and account for reductions, often once the school year has begun. We have begun to move salaries and benefits of employees out of federal grants and into the general fund to provide greater stability and more efficient budgeting. Additionally by doing so we avoid a penalty of paying higher benefits costs for federally funded employees. 

Our school system is dynamic, ever evolving, and extremely complex. Our success, and the success of our students, must be measured in multiple ways. We certainly have room for growth which requires resources in order to make change happen. This budget helps us make progress.  We appreciate the support of our community and our collective focus on all students, fostering an environment where all belong and where all are successful. Please VOTE on Tuesday, June 9. 

Thank you,

Peter Lancia, Ph. D., Superintendent of Schools

Westbrook has long been known for its outstanding faculty and staff. Many teachers began careers here and taught here for many years. Some moved on to new roles including school leadership in Westbrook and beyond. Several have returned after teaching in other schools because they missed the culture we have in our school community. Westbrook teachers are leaders in the profession and have been honored in different ways including four as Maine Teachers of the Year. Currently, two Art Teachers have been honored by the Maine Art Educators' Association. WMS Art Teacher Melissa Perkins who has been in the district for two decades has been named Middle Level Art Educator of the Year. A more recent addition to the faculty, WHS Art Teacher Charlotte Caron has been named "New to the Profession" Art Educator of the Year. Both represent outstanding classroom teaching practices and have inspired students to make and learn with art. WHS Band Director was named Maine Music Educator of the Year by the Maine Music Educators Association, an award that was presented at the magnificent All City Concert. He continues the proud tradition of excellence in music education in Westbrook that dates back to Rudy Vallee, Al Hawkes, Don Doane, and George Bookataub. We are proud that our teachers lead the profession. Additionally in our Art Department alone, WHS teacher Matthew Johnson is past president of Maine Art Educators' Association and Director of Art Dr. Rachel Somerville is a faculty member at Maine College of Art and Design and head of the Art Education Department. Other faculty members are adjunct professors at SMCC, USM, and UMF, leaders of professional organizations, and serve on boards of professional organizations. In Westbrook they advise activities and clubs, coach students, lead Communities of Practice, host professional development for colleagues, engage in graduate study among many professional responsibilities while focusing on their students. They make outstanding contributions to Westbrook students as well as learners across the state and New England. Our support staff demonstrates their commitment to our students and schools every day. Custodians take pride in their buildings and drivers ensure that al students in their care are safe on their way to and from school. Our Ed Techs, many of whom are certified teachers, provide support for individuals and groups of students in various programs. Our nutrition staff engage in workshops with area chefs and enjoy developing new recipes and meals that will appeal to our students. Our administrators lead our schools with pride and ensure that our vision and values come to life every day in every school. From our nurses to playground aides, our social workers to principals, our counselors to tech support technicians, we are incredibly proud of and thankful for our staff, true Points of Pride in Westbrook! 

Gov. Janet Mills was at WHS recently for a ceremonial signing of the “Bell to Bell, No Cell” legislation which bans the use of cell phones during the school day at all Maine schools. This was the first time that a sitting governor visited WHS! Students were especially thrilled to meet and talk with her and she graciously obliged, answering questions, posing for selfies, and signing yearbooks. The event was also attended by Commissioner of Education Pender Makin, Reps. Sue Salisbury and Drew Gattine, Sen. Jill Duson, Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau, Senate President Mattie Daugherty, and several other legislators and staff. Speakers include co-Principal Patrick Colgan, teacher Meredith Diamond, School Committee member Erin Cavalarro, and student Ezra B. 

Thanks to funding from the Westbrook Education Foundation, all of our fourth graders from Canal, Congin, and Saccarappa spent a very special day at Scarborough Beach. This event had been a tradition in years past that was revived this year. Students and staff enjoyed the day filled with activities and opportunities to meet new friends they will get to know better in Middle School. 

Early Childhood typically refers to PreK and Kindergarten, although many early childhood educators specialize and are certified to teach in grades PreK-3. Westbrook has a long history of offering high quality programs for our youngest children. The You n' Me Nursery School at WRVC is a lab school for our Education Pathways program. Three and four year olds are taught by high school students who aspire to careers in child care and education settings and are supervised by teacher Darlene Bruns and ed tech Robin Linscott, both Master's level educators, in an engaging half day program.  Additionally, in partnership with The Opportunity Alliance, Westbrook has offered a Head Start PreK for two decades. The program was launched at Prides Corner and Saccarappa Schools and moved over the years to different locations. This partnership will end in 2026 but a new Westbrook Public PreK will replace it with a robust half-day program suited to meet the needs of four year olds including those with disabilities identified through Child Developmental Services (CDS). The new program has proven to be very popular. It is full with a waiting list. The curriculum for the new program will follow the State of Maine's highly successful and widely used PreK for ME. It is a language rich, play based curriculum that is based on a model developed by the Boston Public Schools. Foundational skills in literacy and numeracy will be incorporated into the program and will align with our Kindergarten program to provide a smooth transition the following year. Our Kindergarten program provides nurturing support for students and families, welcoming them into our school community. Both academic and social development are central to our program. Early literacy skills including alphabetics, phonics, and phonemic awareness along with early numeracy skills such as number sense, counting, and problem solving are blended with play and social interaction. As children move thorough developmental stages, our teachers and staff monitor needs and develop instruction to meet them. Our youngest learners are important as we help them to begin their journey toward a successful Westbrook school experience.

WHS hosted the first Alumni Hall of Fame induction recently. This celebration was initiated by a group of teachers who wanted to celebrate the accomplishments of past students at WHS and inspire current students.  The honorees were: Gracia Baretti, Kevin Eastman, Lisa Blais Manning, Al Hawkes, George Bookataub, Shawn McKeough, Joseph Deroche, Beth Murphy, Matt Donohue, and Rudy Vallee. Congratulations! Go Blazes!

Thank you to our friends at the Saccarappa Lodge Masons and organizer Alex Stone who sponsored once again our Books for Bikes program. Students were invited to read lots of books (at least 5 or 100 pages) to be entered into a drawing for a new bike and helmet. Four students at each grade level at each elementary school were selected! Thanks to our students who participated and to the generosity of the Masons.

Westbrook School Department

One Promise: The best education for all, for life.

Dr. Peter Lancia, Superintendent of Schools

www.westbrookschools.org

wsd@westbrookschools.org