PPS Important Dates!
Mark your calender for these upcoming budget process dates
Greetings,
The PTO wanted all families to be aware of some key upcoming dates in the budget process for the 2024-2025 School Year for Portland Public Schools ("PPS"), including the public forum scheduled for Tuesday, February 6 (details below).
Budget Background: As you may have heard, this budget process is expected to be difficult. PPS is losing federal COVID relief funds at the end of the current 2023-2024 school year, which represents approximately 6% of the current budget. At the same time, PPS also is facing increased costs due to inflation, increasing student enrollment, and the possibility of less funding from the State of Maine.
What Rowe Staff & Administrators Need: Here at Rowe, the consistent message the PTO has heard from administrators and staff is that our school needs more resources so that we can have more trained and qualified staff members in the school working directly with students. Our educators need more time and more help to handle the many, many tasks on their plate.
What Families Can Do: Our School Board Member for District 3, Dr. Julianne Opperman, has stated that it is important for families to engage in the budget process and express their priorities as the School Board and then the City Council considers whether property tax increases are needed to adequately fund PPS for 2024-2025. Mayor Mark Dion has similarly asked for the public to engage in the budget process.
A few ways that you can engage to express your views:
· Attend the public forum on the PPS budget, scheduled for Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 6:00 p.m in person at Casco Bay High School, Room 200, 196 Allen Avenue, Portland, ME, Virtual attendance is available by Zoom, with directions available here.
· Contact Dr. Opperman, the School Board Member whose District encompasses Rowe, by email at opperj@portlandschools.org to express your priorities.
· Contact the At-Large School Board Members, Nyalat Biliew (bilien@portlandschools.org) and Ben Grant (grantb@portlandschools.org), or the entire School Board (schoolboard@portlandschools.org)
· Contact Regina Phillips, the District 3 City Councilor (rphillips@portlandmaine.gov), Mayor Mark Dion(mdion@portlandmaine.gov) and/or the entire City Council (council@portlandmaine.gov)
· Write a letter to the editor to submit to the Portland Press Herald or The Forecaster.
· Talk to your neighbors about the needs of PPS and our kids, and encourage them to support a budget that meets those needs.
· If you need help getting started with a letter, or would like to connect with other parents about collective advocacy for the budget and PPS, please contact our parent volunteers in this area, Brittany Peats (brpeats@gmail.com) and Lara Rosen (lara.k.rosen@gmail.com)
Warmly,
The PTO Board