As any Biddeford citizen who follows the school’s budget process knows, the development of the school budget begins long before the City Council vote. Our six schools and associated departments deliberated and submitted their budgets to the superintendent of schools six months ago.
Once the budget is compiled, the superintendent of schools and business manager review each and every line of the budget with the appropriate supervisor to ensure accuracy and relevance, confirming that each request is necessary to fulfill the mission of the school. Supervisors stood before the school committee in March to explain and justify their budget requests in an all-day budget review.
This year, the budget will allow the School Department to create a new middle school-level STEM academy unlike any other in the state, add a new plumbing and heating program at the Center of Technology (COT), develop additional programming for special education students, and complete critical piecemeal renovation work at the COT.
This work is decades overdue, and will be paid back to the citizens through increased state subsidy. Our COT renovations actually pay: we get back more than what we spend. All of this educational advancement can be accomplished with zero increase to property owners.
This year, in preparation for the budget, I made it clear to administrators that we must scrutinize each and every request. Our goal was to present a balanced budget that was conservative in nature while expanding programs for students and maintaining the buildings that the taxpayers have generously funded.
As the superintendent of schools, I am always mindful of my responsibility to present a frugal budget to the citizens, while meeting the academic and social needs of the students in an ever-changing world. I take this financial stewardship very seriously. I pride myself in having the necessary skills and vision to look beyond the immediate present and see trends that may occur in the next several years.
Even with the additional programs for students and one-time capital expenses, the budget produced will have zero impact on your tax bill. We have used expanded state subsidy, partnerships with other communities, and grants in order to provide more offerings to the community of Biddeford.
Please take some time to learn as much as you can about the 2016-17 School Department budget and the budget validation referendum. I am happy to answer any questions that you may have about the process or items in the budget. I want to thank the school committee, city council, citizens, and all other staff for their hard work and support in reviewing the school budget.
The budget validation vote on June 14 is your opportunity to have input on the Biddeford School Department budget.
Jeremy Ray
Superintendent of Schools
Biddeford School Department
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