Week #35 of face to face instruction within the Gorham schools is in the books! JUST TWO WEEKS REMAIN OF SCHOOL! Such an exciting time! I am thinking back to August of last summer remembering that after all the work we put in to open our schools up was done, I hoped and hoped and hoped we could get at least 3-4 weeks of school in before COVID forced us to go fully remote again. Look at us now! Thirty five weeks in and never looking back! What a journey! What precious TIME WITH STUDENTS we have had! It hasn't always been perfect...but what last spring showed us most is the importance of being physically together, the importance of supporting and caring for one another, the importance of perseverance, and the importance of community! There is no doubt in my mind that Gorham has one of the best communities in the state! We have proved it time and time again this past year! I for one am happy to be celebrating the end of another successful school year in Gorham with all of you!
As always, I like to share a few pictures from the past week to help give folks a sense of what has been happening in our schools. Check it out - but know - it is literally just a snapshot!
. 
. 
. 
When you look at the language in red above, you might be wondering what all that means. What additional money? If there is additional money why can't we just approve of the budget now with those amounts and reduce taxes now? Valid questions indeed...let's see if I can give the quick "cliff notes" version...
First - it is important to understand the timelines required to pass a school's budget. The School Committee approved of the School Department budget back in April, but that definitely is not the final step in the process. A school's budget must be approved by the School Committee (or Board), then it has to be approved by the legislative body for the school. In some cases - like RSU 14 for example - that "legislative body" is actually the taxpayers that live in the district. In that example, the taxpayers come together in a big district wide budget meeting to approve of the budget. In the case of Gorham, our "legislative body" is the Town Council. This is similar in Scarborough, South Portland and other municipal school departments. In Gorham, this vote is scheduled to take place on June 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Council's first face to face meeting in over a year (to be held at the municipal center and broadcast live on GoCAT). At this phase of the approval process, the "legislative body" can make changes to the proposed amounts. They can increase or decrease the overall budget. Whatever is approved by the "legislative body" then must be brought forward to what is called a "budget validation referendum". Here is where all of you (the public) come in! The voters in the community of Gorham have to approve of the overall budget or "validate" the approval of the legislative body (in this case the Town Council). All of this then, has to line up to the state's scheduled election day of June 8. So when you think about process and posting requirements, etc. you can see - it takes a while to pass a school budget, a process that typically begins in November of each year!
Second - now that you understand the overall timeline and process, its kinda easy to understand why we can't include these potential new funds in the approval process right now. See, Governor Mills just recently announced this proposed change to her original state biennial budget proposal (CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE). The Maine legislature has not yet approved of their budget. Now, there is no question in anyone's mind that this proposal will pass. It is just a question of whether or not the proposal passes with 2/3 approval (which would allow it to be emergency legislation and go into effect immediately once passed) or whether the budget is approved by a majority (which would then go into effect 90 days after it is passed). EITHER WAY...considering that today is May 28, and that the Town Council's budget vote is June 1 and the validation vote is June 8...it is clear that the state will not finally approve of the revised budget proposal until AFTER our process has already been concluded for approval of the Gorham Schools FY 22 Budget.
But don't worry - we have a plan to ensure that once these additional funds are approved and state subsidy amounts are adjusted to include these new funds - we are able to utilize them directly to offset taxpayer expenses in FY 22. Through collaboration with the School Committee and the Town Council, we have added an item onto the June 1 Town Council agenda that would allow us to use any additional funds received from the state in that fiscal year to go directly to offsetting taxpayer expenses. This mechanism will allow us to move what we anticipate to be an additional $1.16 million dollars in state subsidy directly into our revenue streams, thereby REDUCING LOCAL TAXES BY THAT SAME AMOUNT. We estimate that by doing this we would decrease the expected mil impact of the school's budget to the taxpayers of Gorham by -$0.65. This would actually reduce taxes in Gorham as the projected mil rate impact from the Schools would be -$.08.
Bottom line...the proposed FY 22 Budget was approved unanimously by the School Committee in April, 2021. The School Committee developed this proposed budget to meet the needs of the children in our community. After the Pandemic year we've all had, there is no question that the needs of our children have grown and that we must be prepared to support them. This proposed budget does just that while doing its best to balance those needs with the overall needs of our community. And thanks to the commitment of Governor Mills to fund schools across the state at 55% the end result of this year's school budget approval process may very well be a reduction to local taxes! Good news indeed!
I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO TUNE INTO THE JUNE 1 TOWN COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING AND TO PERUSE THE INFORMATION SHARED ABOVE REGARDING THE PROPOSED FY 22 SCHOOL BUDGET AND THEN GET OUT TO VOTE ON JUNE 8!
As always, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me and I'll do my best to answer (heather.perry@gorhamschools.org). Thank you!
VOICES OF HOPE - SPECIAL SURPRISE THIS SATURDAY
Voices of Hope continues this weekend with episode 5 at 7pm on Ch. 13.
Gorham Savings Bank is sponsoring this episode and graciously donated a 60 second advertisement spot to the Gorham Schools. Dr. Record, Eliza Kenigsberg, Adam Parvanta and several of our GHS students worked to put together a really incredible showcase of what the Gorham Schools are all about. PLEASE TUNE IN TO HEAR WHAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE TO SAY!
To see the "surprise" advertisement you will need to watch the program live. If you are interested in watching previous episodes, you can view them here: https://
DEFINITELY WORTH THE WATCH!
INFORMATION ON VACCINATIONS FOR CHILDREN 12-18
I wanted to share some additional information that I recently received from the Maine CDC regarding COVID 19 vaccines for children. I found it very informative...CLICK HERE to review.
GMS AWARDED $100,000 "DON'T QUIT" GRANT!
The following announcement was shared from the Maine Department of Education earlier this week:
Augusta, MAINE – Today, Governor Janet Mills and fitness icon Jake (Body by Jake) Steinfeld, Chairman of the National Foundation for Governors' Fitness Councils (NFGFC), announced three Maine schools have won a state-of-the-art $100,000 DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center. The multi-million dollar DON’T QUIT! Campaign has selected Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School in Deer Isle, Gorham Middle School in Gorham and SeDoMoCha School in Dover-Foxcroft for new fitness centers in recognition of their commitment to the health of their students.
“The last year has proven just how important investing in the health of our students is to keeping our state strong,” said Governor Mills. “I congratulate these deserving schools on being selected to receive a state of the art fitness center and I thank them for their commitment to the health and well-being of Maine children. These centers would not be possible without the generosity of the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils and Mr. Steinfeld and I thank them for their investment in the children of Maine.”
“We had an overwhelming response from elementary and middle schools throughout the great state of Maine. None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of Governor Mills, who helped make this campaign a huge success by putting the health and well-being of children first,” said Mr. Steinfeld. “Three schools really embodied our mission of building a nation of the fittest, healthiest kids in the world. I’m thrilled to announce that Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School, Gorham Middle School and SeDoMoCha School are all being awarded a brand new $100,000 DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center. Congratulations to all, we look forward to visiting these three schools during our ribbon cutting ceremonies this fall!”
Each fitness center is financed through public/private partnerships with companies like The Coca-Cola Company, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, Wheels Up and Nike, and does not rely on taxpayer dollars or state funding. Fitness in Motion provides all the fitness equipment, which is manufactured right here in the United States. The foundation’s goal is to build a nation of the fittest, healthiest kids in the world.
These state-of-the-art DON’T QUIT! Fitness Centers will be unveiled during ribbon cutting ceremonies this fall. This year, the NFGFC program will have completed 40 states and will make its way into all 50 states in the coming years.
For more information about the National Foundation, visit www.natgovfit.org.
CONGRATULATIONS GMS! GO RAMS!
P.S. - I had the pleasure of getting to watch the video that our students worked on as part of the grant application submission process. I thought it was worth sharing! VERY CONVINCING! Who could say "No" to these students! Check it out!
GHS GRADUATION AND SENIOR CONVOY PLANS!
First of all - CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GHS CLASS OF 2021! What a year it has been!
- First we weren't sure we COULD start school this fall in a face to face environment...
- Then we took away your ability to be FULLY together as a class by splitting you up into an A/B cohort...
- Then we took away your ability to gather together and do some traditional "stuff" like the first day parking lot breakfast showing off those awesome senior t-shirts...
- Then we limited your ability to participate in clubs, activities and sports...
- Then we couldn't do things like live and in person National Honors Society Inductions, or Scholarship night, Awards Night, etc...
- Then we didn't do snow days...
- Then we couldn't do Prom...
This list could unfortunately go on...but I think that it provides the appropriate backdrop to my next statement! We are all so proud of you and what you have accomplished in spite of a world wide pandemic! You never let it stop you from doing the things you were passionate about! Yeah, maybe you had to figure out a way to do these things differently - BUT YOU DID! You played basketball with masks on! You created live radio plays! You tackled issues around social justice! You zoomed into classrooms! You celebrated and honored each other's accomplishments! I dare say that YOU taught US (Teachers, staff and administrators) a great deal about what it means to be resilient. You showed us what it looks like to not let things like global pandemics stand in the way of your goals! To be honest, through your example, teachers, staff, and administrators had no other choice but to follow suit and do the same!
So once again - CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GHS CLASS OF 2021! I have great faith you will succeed in anything you endeavor to undertake - you've already proven it!☺
We will be honoring our 2021 graduates on Sunday, June 13 at 4:00 p.m. (weather permitting) with a graduation ceremony to be held outdoors on the GHS competition field. We do have plans in case of inclement weather that have been shared with families by Mr. Jandreau if the need arises.
Gorham High School, in collaboration with Gorham Project Graduation, the Gorham Police Department and the Gorham Fire Department will also be honoring our graduates in a graduation convoy, which we hope will become a new tradition here in Gorham started by our 2020 graduates! The convoy will commence at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 13th beginning at the Gorham Industrial Park and conclude at Gorham High School. Graduates will be joined by their families for the convoy in their cars. The convoy will follow route 25 and Main Street from the Industrial Park through Gorham Village. The convoy will turn left onto South Street and enter the Gorham High School Campus via Morrill Avenue.
WE INVITE MEMBERS OF OUR GORHAM COMMUNITY to line Route 25 and Main Street, South Street, and Morrill Avenue to cheer and wave signs that celebrate our seniors. We ask that participants and spectators refrain from throwing candy or other items, either from vehicles in the convoy to spectators or from spectators toward the convoy.
Please note that, at the conclusion of the convoy, seniors will be dropped off at GHS for a closed event. There will NOT be a public fireworks display as there was last year.
Below is an image showing the convoy route...WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE COMMUNITY OUT SUPPORTING OUR SENIORS! (Red dot is GHS, Blue dots indicate the route that will be taken from the industrial park).
CHANGE IN A/B SCHEDULE FOR GHS
Just wanted to make sure GHS students and parents saw this recent announcement regarding the change of A/B days for the last few weeks of school at GHS...
END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES TO BE AWARE OF...
* June 2 - Senior Scholarship Night, 6:00 p.m. via zoom.
* June 7 - Gr. 9-12 Vaccine Clinic #2 (1/2 GHS students)
- Great Falls 5th Grade Celebration Parade (5:00 p.m.)
- Parent Information Night on IXL (summer online learning software, 6:00 p.m.)
* June 8 - K-12 Virtual Step Up Day!
- VOTING DAY - GET OUT AND VOTE!
* June 9 - Vaccine Clinic #2 (All GMS and 1/2 GHS)
- GMS 8th grade celebration parade (5:00 p.m.)
* June 10 - Last student day, students dismissed on Early Release Schedule
- Village 5th Grade Celebration Parade (2:00 p.m.)
* June 11 - Last staff Day
- Narragansett 5th Grade Celebration Parade (12:00 noon)
* June 12 - POSSIBLE rain date for GHS Graduation (1:00 p.m. if announced)
* June 13 - GHS Graduation (4:00 p.m.)
- Note: Each of our schools have other activities going on as well. Best place to keep up with the various "happenings" is by visiting each school's website at: www.gorhamschools.org
GORHAM MEMORIAL DAY PARADE IS BACK!
The Memorial Day parade is back in Gorham this year! Check out details by going to the Gorham Recreation website LINKED HERE. Parade will be held on May 31 at 11:00 a.m.
GET INVOLVED - GORHAM ATHLETIC BOOSTERS!
Want to get more involved in helping our GMS and GHS athletic programs? Check out the flyer below for more information on how!
Each year these two Gorham Powerhouse groups combine forces to put together an incredibly fun time aimed at raising funds to support GHS student scholarships and the Athletic Boosters. This year's scramble is coming up on June 18...check out the flyer below and LINKED HERE for more information!
In closing, I wanted to wish everyone a great long weekend and to take a moment to help remind folks why we have a long weekend at all.
Memorial Day is a solemn day of remembrance for everyone who has died serving in the American armed forces. The holiday, originally known as Decoration Day, started after the Civil War to honor the Union and Confederate dead. It is a day to honor those who given the ultimate sacrifice to our country. Let's all make sure to remember why we have that extra day off while we are enjoying our bbq's and other family events this weekend. We are all blessed to live in such an amazing community, an amazing state, and an amazing country thanks to those sacrifices!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.