The City of South Portland has moved to close James O. Kaler Elementary and reconfigure students by grade level, but residents may be given the opportunity to weigh in before plans are finalized.
A petition is being circulated that would put the closure of Kaler School before voters as a referendum question should it be signed by at least 10 percent of the number of voters who cast a ballot in the last gubernatorial election.
Resident Wheeler Boyd-Boffa was issued the petition by the city clerk Wednesday, according to the Portland Press Herald, more than a week after the school board voted to approve the plan.
Under state law, the petition must be presented to the school board within thirty days of its decision being made.
Boyd-Boffa has reportedly said he will not collect signatures unless the effort has support from parents across all five elementary schools.
“I’m not categorically opposed to school closure and reconfiguration as a means to help address the current budget crisis or to further the district’s mission or vision,” he said during a public comment period Tuesday. “But I do not believe a sufficient case has been made for a closure or configuration.”
This is not the only action that has been taken by residents in response to the City’s push to close Kaler and reorganize elementary students by grade.
Last week, recall papers were also taken out against School Board Chair Rosemarie De Angelis and Vice Chair Adrian Dowling, who resigned Monday.
Over the past few months, the closure of Kaler and the grade level reconfiguration were presented as cost-cutting measures amidst the City’s ongoing budgetary struggles.
According to Assistant Superintendent Johanna Prince, the district needed to cut about $8.4 million in expenses in order to keep property tax increases to 6 percent, a figure on the higher end of what elected leaders have recommended.
Research presented at a recent budget workshop suggested that Kaler’s closure would save $3.1 million for this year’s budget and $16.4 million over the next five years. Potential savings from reconfiguration are reportedly yet to be determined.
Without shuttering Kaler, the district has said that it would need to cut another 12 to 16 positions on top of the more than 70 which have already been proposed.
signed by at least 10 percent of the number of voters who cast a ballot in the last gubernatorial election.
13,387 total votes cast in the 2022 gubernatorial in South Portland, so the need 1338 signautres to get on the ballot.
Assuming this is for the November ballot, they will be able to collect signatures at the polls at the primary. About 2,000 voters at the 2022 primary in South Portland, so it will be a big lift to get 1,338+ to sign. May have more this year as we have a large nunber of gov candidates.