Portland Explores Consolidating Some Services
The Portland Public Schools is exploring possible ways to work with nearby school districts in providing such services as special education, bus maintenance and staff development.
A new Maine law requires school districts to either consolidate or create an alternative plan. The Portland Public Schools is exempt from consolidation because of its large size (7,100 students).
The district has notified the Maine Department of Education that it intends instead to pursue a plan that could lead to some regional services as well as a combining of some city and school district operations.
Portland school administrators are talking with their counterparts in Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland about the possibility of jointly providing services for students with anxiety disorder. They also have discussed collaborating on professional development opportunities.
Portland also is looking into the possibility of having the district’s school buses maintained at the South Portland School Department’s garage. In addition, Portland city and school administrators are exploring ways to work together more efficiently in such areas as facilities and maintenance.
All of those initiatives were outlined in a “notice of intent” sent by the Portland Public Schools to the Maine Department of Education. Education Commissioner Susan Gendron has informed the district that the notice of intent complies with the new law.
