Superintendent's Office

May 23, 2025

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members,

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Veterans and their families who have stood beside them as they served our country so that we may live in freedom. Please know that your courage, sacrifice, and commitment will never be forgotten.

The flurry of activities, events and celebrations during this time of year is a reminder that another school year is quickly coming to a close. Please take a moment to visit the school website that your child attends in order to learn more about the various end of year celebrations along with important dates to remember.

An important date I would like to bring to your attention is Tuesday, June 10, 2025. This of course is the date of our School Budget Validation Referendum. The election will take place at the VFW, 175 Veteran Drive. Polls will open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 8:00p.m. Voters may also vote by absentee ballot which may be obtained at the Winslow Town Office.

The development of a school budget is a long process involving numerous meetings and conversations with key stakeholders.

As always, the school budget was developed with certain priorities in mind as a result of our analysis of student data. Our budget presentations showcased our successes, including the fact that our students performed at or above state academic expectations when compared with peers across Maine.

Our budget presentations featured a detailed, line-by-line breakdown of the proposed budget and highlighted major cost drivers, including inflation, contractual obligations, unfunded state mandates, and negotiated labor increases. The budget was crafted by focusing on needs rather than wants, with thoughtful cuts and adjustments made throughout the process.

During our presentations, we also shared the ways in which we worked to reduce the cost burden on local taxpayers. For example, our continued participation in a service center model for business operations, combined with joint fuel bids involving three different towns and school districts, helped stabilize heating and fuel costs for another year. Additionally, our participation in a solar array will reduce our electricity expenses by $25,000 in the 2025–2026 school year.

Our student enrollment increased by over 36 students, which has resulted in a higher return on our state subsidies. We also welcomed more tuition students who chose to attend Winslow Public Schools because of the high-quality programs and services we offer.

In summary, our total budget request for the 2025–2026 school year is $20,970,005.77, reflecting a 3.62% increase over last year. However, due to our continued commitment to fiscal responsibility—and an increase in revenue tied to a growing student population—I’m pleased to report that this budget reduces the local tax appropriation by $242,093.48, a 2.56% decrease from the previous year. This is a noteworthy accomplishment, especially in light of current inflation and broader economic pressures. For more detailed information regarding our school budget you can visit our school website at https://winslow.aos92.org/home and go to our school budget link.

I would like to thank our Staff, Administrators, School Board Members, and our Central Office Team for the time and effort invested in developing this budget. I also extend my gratitude to the Town Council and Town Manager for recognizing the school district's work in producing a budget that supports our goals and needs while remaining fiscally responsible to the taxpayers of the Winslow Community.

I ask that you please exercise your right to vote on June 10, 2025.

With appreciation.

Peter Thiboutot

Superintendent, Winslow Public Schools