Superintendent's Office

April 15, 2025

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members,

On January 24, 2025, I sent an email to the school community stating that the Winslow Board of Education would be holding a series of meetings to discuss the development of the 2025–2026 school budget.

In that email, I invited members of the school community to attend our meetings either in person or virtually, from the comfort of their homes, to hear firsthand the thinking that shaped the budget process. I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who attended our meetings or followed along online. For those who were unable to participate, recordings of the meetings along with a Summary and Revenue Sheet can be found by going to the Winslow Home Page and clicking on the School Budget 2025-2026 link.

As in previous years, the 2025–2026 budget was developed with clear priorities based on our analysis of student data—both academic and social-emotional. 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.

These presentations also 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.

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.

Sincerely,

Peter Thiboutot

Superintendent, Winslow Public Schools