Portland, ME: $5 million shortfall; due to "increasing demand for SPED teachers"
- The end of childhood
- Mar 8
- 1 min read
Mar 6, 2025, WGME TV, Portland, ME: South Portland school district likely facing layoffs due to $5 million budget deficit
SOUTH PORTLAND (WGME) – The South Portland school district is facing tough decisions, and likely layoffs, as officials look to close a $5 million budget gap.
Superintendent Tim Matheney says the current budget is up more than 11 percent over last year.
He cites the increasing demand for special education teachers and declining federal funds as the main factors driving up costs.
Matheney says as a result, they will have to cut positions.
"Eighty percent of our costs are our fantastic employees. We are hopeful that a majority of those impacted staff members can be placed in another position in the district," Matheney said.
Employees will be alerted in the next couple of weeks if they are going to be let go.
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