Back to school
Scarborough:
Orientation for grades K-2, 3, 6, 9 – Aug. 30
First day for all students – Sept. 4
Cape Elizabeth:
First day for all students – Sept. 4
(Grade 9 – 7:30 a.m start; grades 10-12 – 10:30 a.m. start)
South Portland
First day for grades 1-12 – Sept. 4
Frist day for kindergarteners – Sept. 10
As the deadline approaches for schools to file their intended course of action for consolidation with the state, Scarborough, South Portland and Cape Elizabeth are all sticking to their plans to remain stand-alone districts.
The letter of intent is due to the state on Aug. 31. Earlier in the month, Scarborough and South Portland school boards approved the alternative plan option, which means they are expected to write up a description of how they will remain efficient districts without consolidating by Dec. 15. The Cape Elizabeth school board was scheduled to do the same at a meeting Tuesday, after The Current’s deadline.
Scarborough and South Portland are exempt from joining with another district because they each consist of more than 2,500 students. The Cape Elizabeth school system will also apply to stand alone because it qualifies as a high-performing, efficient district.
Though none of the districts plan on consolidating administration with another district, they will all be looking at ways to share resources with neighboring school systems.
“It is my hope that we will involve ourselves in the spirit of what is going to be done,” said Scarborough School Board Chairwoman Annalee Rosenblatt at a meeting Thursday.
According to Scarborough Superintendent David Doyle, a committee will be formed to write up the detailed plan of “how to streamline” the school district’s spending while remaining on its own.
“It would cost us money to join any of our neighbors,” Doyle said. “We are universally, across the board, below state averages.”
In South Portland, a committee will also be formed with representation from the school board, the city council, the superintendent’s office, the city manager’s office and the community, according to Superintendent Suzanne Godin.
“We will look at what are our options and opportunities for collaboration with other districts,” Godin said Friday.
The state has emphasized the need for all school districts to re-evaluate their spending in system administration, transportation, special education and building maintenance.
“We’ll be exploring at least those four areas,” Godin said.
According to Cape Elizabeth School Board Chairwoman Kathy Ray, “the superintendent is always looking for ways to save money,” so it is natural for the district to consider sharing resources with neighboring districts. Cape Elizabeth already shares services between the schools and the town, which is one of the reasons it is considered a model for efficiency.
“We’re going to continue to do what we’ve always done,” said Cape Elizabeth Town Councilor Cynthia Dill.
Though the immediate course of action is clear, school board members and administrators still have questions about how the districts, even if they stand alone, will be affected by consolidation. According to Doyle, on reason for that confusion is it still hasn’t been completely sorted out by the state.
“There’s anticipation that there will be tweaks,” Doyle said.
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