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April 14, 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 can be found at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/@blackraidernewsnetwork805/streams
Links to specific sections of the board meetings pertaining to the budget can be found in the January 24 message below. Hyperlinks are listed in red.
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.
I have attached a Summary and Revenue sheet for your review.
Sincerely,
Peter Thiboutot
Superintendent, Winslow Public Schools
SUMMARY & REVENUE 25-26 DRAFT - Google Sheets.pdfSUMMARY 25-26 DRAFT - Google Sheets.pdfJanuary 24, 2025
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members,
On Monday, January 27, 2025 the Winslow School Board will hold the first of many meetings focused on the development of the 2025-2026 draft school budget.
The development of a school budget is a long process involving numerous meetings and conversations with key stakeholders. As always, the budget is developed with certain priorities in mind as a result of our analysis of student data (both academic and social-emotional). Over the course of the next few months, budget presentations will be held with the Winslow Board of Education. I have included a budget timeline (see below) in the event you would like to attend any of the meetings. The meetings will be held in the Winslow Jr./Sr. High School Library. They begin at 6:00pm. The meetings are open to the public, live streamed, and recorded for transparency and accessibility.
During the presentations, you will hear about our successes, student demographics, our goals and the rationale behind our request.
The presentations will feature a line by line accounting of the budget and will highlight the major cost drivers which include inflation, contractual obligations, unfunded state mandates, and negotiated labor increases.
I hope you are able to take advantage of attending some or all of our budget meetings either in person or virtually from the comfort of your home. The hyperlinks to the budget meetings are listed below in red.
Thank you in advance for taking the time out of your busy schedules to learn about the thinking that went into the preparation of this budget and the needs we are trying to address with our financial request in order to provide a quality education for our students.
Peter Thiboutot
Superintendent, Winslow Public Schools
Budget Timeline for Draft FY26 Budget
January 27th (Regular Board Meeting) Winslow Jr./Sr. High Media Center. 6:00 pm
Agenda:
Cost Center Presentations:
Winslow High School Budget Presentation (including Athletics and Maintenance)
Winslow High School Athletics
Winslow High School Maintenance
February 10th (Special budget Meeting) Winslow Jr./Sr. High Media Center. 6:00 pm
Cost Center Presentations
Growth and Achievement Data Presentation
Winslow Elementary School Presentation (including Maintenance)
Winslow Elementary School Maintenance
Winslow Junior High School Presentation (including Athletics and Maintenance)
Winslow Junior High School Athletics
Winslow Junior High Maintenance
February 24th (Regular Board Meeting) Winslow Jr./Sr. High Media Center. 6:00 pm
Cost Center Presentations
English Language Learners ELL Budget
March 10th (Special Meeting if Needed)
March 13th (Budget Workshop with Town Council)
Winslow Town Library. 6:00 p.m.
March 24th (Regular Meeting) Winslow Jr./Sr. High Media Center. 6:00 pm
April 14th (Special Meeting if Needed) Winslow Jr./Sr. High Media Center. 6:00 pm
The Budget Referendum Vote will take place on Tuesday, June 10 at the Winslow VFW located at 175 Veteran Drive, Winslow Maine. Absentee ballots will be available at the Winslow Town Office starting Monday, May 12, 2025.
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