Biddeford voters will soon be asked whether they approve a $49.3 million budget for operation of Biddeford’s public schools during the next fiscal year.

The $49,269,781 school budget was ratified by the city council on May 8 and represents what School Supt. Jeremy Ray describes as a “carefully managed” expenditure increase of slightly more than 4 percent.

The election will be held on Tuesday, June 10, at Biddeford High School’s Tiger Gymnasium located at 20 Maplewood Avenue. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The last date for an absentee ballot request is Thursday, June 5, according to the Biddeford City Clerk’s office.

Although Ray described this as an “exciting time for our school district,” he also noted that Biddeford will see a sharp decrease in state aid for education this year because of the city’s recent spike in property valuations.

“It’s important to understand just how efficiently Biddeford manages taxpayer dollars compared to other communities,” Ray wrote in a recent open letter to the Biddeford Community.

According to Ray, Biddeford spends $15,274 per student, nearly $1,800 less per student than the state average of $17,029.

When compared to neighboring communities, the difference is even more striking, Ray said.

For example, the town of Old Orchard Beach spends $25,440 per student, while the city of Saco spends $17, 348 per student — $2,074 more than Biddeford. Kennebunk, Scarborough and South Portland all spend much more per student than Biddeford.

Despite spending significantly less per student, Ray said Biddeford schools continue to provide “quality education, maintain modern facilities, and offer diverse programming including our new vocational opportunities.”

Biddeford’s “exceptional fiscal efficiency” also comes with challenges,” Ray explained.

Biddeford is facing what Ray described as” a significant reduction in state aid,” only because Biddeford’s property values have increased substantially.

“Our dedicated teachers and staff
continue to provide the excellent
education that makes Biddeford schools
a source of community pride.”

— School Supt. Jeremy Ray

“While rising property values are positive for our community’s economic health, they create a funding challenge under Maine’s school funding formula, as higher valuations result in reduced state support,” Ray said. “Although we spend $1,800 less per student than the state average, we must ask our taxpayers to shoulder more of the burden due to this state funding formula”

Ray says that it is becoming increasingly difficult to provide all the academic supports and programs that “our students truly need to reach their full potential.”

“The gap between what we spend and what our neighboring districts invest creates real limitations,” Ray said. “Additional reading specialists, mental health counselors, technology support staff, and enrichment programs that other communities take for granted are luxuries we must carefully weigh against our budget constraints.

“Our teachers and staff work tirelessly to bridge these gaps, but there are limits to what can be accomplished with significantly fewer resources per student,” he said.

On the positive side of things, Ray says Biddeford’s commitment to excellence extends far beyond the classroom.

“Our students consistently demonstrate success in academics, athletics, the arts, and our renowned band and marching band programs that compete at the highest levels,” he said.

“Whether our graduates choose to enter the workforce with career-ready skills from our vocational programs or pursue higher education at local colleges or prestigious national universities, they leave Biddeford well-prepared for their next chapter.”

Ray noted that the new addition at Biddeford Primary School will be completed this winter, “providing modern learning spaces for our youngest learners.”

“Infrastructure investments represent our commitment to providing 21st-century educational facilities for all our students,” Ray said. “Our school committee’s long-range vision for maintenance and improvement of the physical plant is a prudent investment.”

“So many districts wait for a crisis and then ask their communities to float large bonds to fix problems that are compounded by can-kicking and neglect,” he added.

Ray pointed out that Biddeford Middle school is celebrating its 20th birthday this year, and is still “an amazing facility that offers a breadth of curricular and cocurricular opportunities that would be the envy of most.”

The Biddeford School Committee, Ray said, is committed to investing at least $250,000 or more in the Biddeford Intermediate School as it begins its fourth decade of service to the city.

Ray described the recently completed Biddeford Regional Center of Technology as one of Maine’s premier vocational centers, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and direct pathways to high-demand careers.

“Our vocational programs not only serve our own students but also generate revenue by serving students from neighboring districts who choose Biddeford for their technical education,” Ray said.

Ray also serves as the superintendent for the city of Saco and the town of Dayton, and he said Biddeford’s collaboration with those neighboring communities has yielded significant savings of roughly $500,000 annually for Biddeford taxpayers.

“While we face challenges with reduced state support, our district continues to thrive,” Ray said. “Our dedicated teachers and staff continue to provide the excellent education that makes Biddeford schools a source of community pride.”

RELATED: To see or download the full text of the superintendent’s letter to the community, click on this link:

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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