Happy Friday, Gorham Schools Families and Community Members! We are already halfway through October! The leaves are putting on quite a show here in Maine; the mornings are getting a little chillier, and our schools are buzzing with the energy of students and staff who have settled into the routines of an exciting school year. Check out some pictures from the past few weeks below and then on to the information!
With absentee and early voting already underway, I want to encourage every eligible Gorham resident to make their voice heard by November 3! Whether you vote early, by absentee ballot, or at the polls on Election Day, your vote matters. Voting is not only one of our most important civic responsibilities, but also a powerful way to model active citizenship for our children. They are watching, and our actions help shape their understanding of democracy!
This November, voters will make important decisions at the national, state, and local levels, including choosing leaders who will represent our communities and making decisions that will shape Gorham's future. Locally, voters will select Town Council and School Committee members and consider an important school bond question.
I've shared detailed information about the proposed school bond in previous blog posts, but I want to make sure every community member has access to the facts before heading to the polls. Below are links to key information to help you decide.
In addition to the local bond question, we will also be voting to fill open seats as follows...
For our Town Council, we have the following folks running for two open seats:
- Suzanne Phillips
- Lou Simms
- Sam Purington
- Roger Kramer
For School Committee, we have the following folks running for three open seats:
- Michelle Littlefield
- Nancy Flagg
- Karl Krebs
- Sheldon Jones
- Michael Ziegler
- Matthew Steinbeck
If you want more information on any of our local candidates, our very own Gorham Times did a wonderful summary of the folks running and you can CLICK HERE to review.
Plenty of consequential decisions are being made on November 3, so please get out and vote! And remember, if you have questions about the local bond request from the Gorham Schools, check out the information linked above and feel free to reach out anytime! My email is heather.perry@gorhamschools.org.
P.S. - AS A REMINDER TO FAMILIES . . . REMEMBER THERE IS NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS ON NOVEMBER 3 WHILE TWO OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE USED AS LOCAL POLLING LOCATIONS (GREAT FALLS ELEMENTARY, AND GORHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL).
HOW DOES THE SCHOOL BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WORK?
Believe it or not, we are already beginning the work to develop the FY 28 Gorham Schools budget! As we get started, I thought it would help to share how the process works, what to expect, and, most importantly, how YOU can stay informed and involved!
You can CLICK HERE to view the full budget development timeline. All School Committee meetings and joint meetings with the Town Council are open to the public, and we encourage you to attend! Can't make it? No worries! Meeting recordings are available through the Town's GoCAT website, and our district's budget webpage will be updated throughout the process with agendas, presentations, supporting documents, and more.
How Do We Build Our Budget?
Gorham Schools uses a zero-based budgeting approach, meaning we start fresh each year and carefully review all 1,000+ budget lines. Rather than automatically increasing last year's numbers, we build our budget around anticipated needs, ensuring resources are justified and aligned with our district's mission and priorities. While this can cause individual budget lines to fluctuate from year to year, it provides a thoughtful, transparent approach to allocating taxpayer resources.
What Does the Timeline Look Like?
Our process begins where it should—with our teachers and support staff! Starting this month, we gather input from those working directly with students. Principals and program directors then develop budget requests and submit them to my office in December for careful review.
From there, the process generally follows this timeline:
October–December: Staff input, school and program budget development, and administrative review.
February: Superintendent presents the initial proposed budget to the School Committee.
February–April: School Committee conducts detailed public reviews, makes adjustments, and approves its proposed budget.
May: Town Council reviews and acts on the proposed school budget.
June: Gorham voters have the final say through the annual school budget referendum.
Stay Informed. Stay Engaged. Your Voice Matters!
Our school budget is much more than numbers on a spreadsheet. It reflects our community's priorities, our commitment to students, and our shared responsibility to provide high-quality educational opportunities while respecting the taxpayers who make them possible. I encourage everyone to follow the process, ask questions, attend meetings when possible, and share your perspectives along the way. The strongest school budgets are built through transparency, thoughtful conversations, and meaningful community involvement. We look forward to working together to develop a budget that supports our students, our schools, and our community!
AASA, the National Superintendent's Association, is working with Thought Exchange to sponsor a nationwide survey of adult community members aimed at helping educational leaders:
Measure confidence in the public schools that locally serve your community
Hear real experiences about what is creating confidence
Identify what actions would improve confidence
Build a picture of what great public education looks like across the country
The survey is completely voluntary and anonymous, and participating will allow our local schools to see summary results specific to our community while also contributing your responses to broader state and national results.
The survey should take about 8 to 10 minutes. I would love to see our Gorham families contribute to this rich national discussion about what families think of our public schools, and how we can improve confidence in public schools moving forward.
Survey Link: https://tejoin.com/participate/498093281
Survey QR Code:
Every day, Gorham School Department employees make a difference in the lives of our students, families, colleagues, and community in big and small ways. We want to make sure those moments are noticed and celebrated!
We are excited to share a way to make that happen that YOU can contribute to!
Gorham Shout-Outs, a simple way for students, families, staff, and community members to recognize any Gorham School Department employee who has made a positive difference. Maybe someone went above and beyond for your child, offered a helping hand when needed, created a strong sense of belonging, supported a colleague, or simply showed the care and compassion that make our schools special. We want to hear about it!
Please use the QR code on the attached flyer (below) to submit a Gorham Shout-Out. We will use these nominations throughout the school year to recognize and celebrate our employees and to share the many examples of great work happening throughout the Gorham Schools.
Our schools are strong because of the people who bring their best to our students and community each day. Thank you for helping us recognize them, celebrate them, and remind them that their work matters!
As we continue our conversations about the purposeful use of technology in our schools and work together to implement Maine's new bell-to-bell cell phone law, I want to make sure families know about the tools available to help children develop healthy, safe, and responsible technology habits. After all, schools and families can't teach students to use technology appropriately on their own. It takes a partnership!
Recently, Apple released additional parental controls and safety features to give families greater awareness of, and control over, how their children use technology. Since Apple products are widely used in our schools, I thought these resources would be a great place to start! Of course, not every family uses Apple devices, and that's perfectly fine. I'll be sharing similar resources for other devices in future blog posts.
What I find particularly encouraging is the growing recognition among technology companies that keeping children safe in a digital world requires more than simply giving them access to technology. It requires giving the adults who care for them the tools to guide, monitor, and support its responsible use. Technology can open incredible doors for learning, creativity, and connection, but our children still need boundaries, guidance, and opportunities to develop good judgment along the way.
Ultimately, our goal isn't simply to limit technology use. It's to help our children develop the skills to use technology wisely, safely, and purposefully, both today and in the future. Schools and families each play an important role in making that happen.
I encourage you to explore the Apple resources below, see what might help your family, and stay tuned for additional resources in future posts!
We often remind folks that strong public schools are built on strong community partnerships, and those partnerships begin with understanding, communication, participation, and engagement. School Committee meetings provide an important window into the challenges and decisions facing our district. While we may not always agree on every issue or decision, an informed community that understands the WHY behind our work helps us have more meaningful and productive conversations about the future of our schools.
So, how do I stay involved with my crazy schedule, one might ask? GOOD QUESTION! Fortunately, we have many ways to stay involved. Here are just a few:
- Check out upcoming meeting agendas for topics of interest. CLICK HERE to find 2026-2027 listings and links to full packet materials.
- Attend A Meeting. If you see an agenda item that interests you, please attend a meeting. All meetings are open to the public, and each agenda includes a spot for general public comment at the front. Visit our website to view our district calendar, which lists all meetings each month.
- Watch our meetings. GoCAT Video records and archives all regular and workshop meetings. CLICK HERE to find a meeting and watch it! They even have a convenient table of contents so you can skim meetings and go to just the areas you want to listen to. Great for busy adults!
- Reach out to SC Members or me to share comments or ask questions! CLICK HERE for SC member emails or email me at heather.perry@gorhamschools.org
You don't have to be a parent of a current student to have a voice in our schools. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, business owner, taxpayer, or simply someone who cares about Gorham's future, your engagement matters!
At the end of the day, our schools belong to our community, and their success is a shared responsibility. The more we understand, the better equipped we are to make thoughtful decisions that keep our students at the center of all we do. Thank you to our School Committee members for their service and to our community for continuing to stay informed, ask questions, and be part of the conversation. Together, we can ensure that the Gorham Schools remain a source of pride and opportunity for generations to come!
THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY RELEASE DAYS & CONTINUED STAFF TRAINING
As families review our school calendars, you may notice several Early Release Days scheduled throughout the school year. Eight, to be exact. We recognize that these days can create challenges for families as they adjust work schedules and arrange childcare. We also want our community to understand why these days matter to the work we do in the Gorham Schools. Early Release Days are not simply shorter school days. They are an intentional investment in our educators' professional growth and, ultimately, in our students' success.
Education is constantly evolving. From new research on how children learn to emerging technologies, student needs are changing, and expectations for our schools are becoming increasingly complex. Our educators must keep learning and growing alongside their students. Early Release Days give teachers and support staff dedicated time to engage in meaningful professional development, collaborate with colleagues, examine student learning data, and strengthen instructional practices. Just as we expect our students to be lifelong learners, we expect our adults who work with them to model that same commitment to continuous improvement.
We understand that every minute of instructional time matters, and we do not take lightly the adjustments families must make to accommodate Early Release Days. We are grateful for your flexibility and partnership in allowing us to provide these important learning opportunities for our staff. Our goal is simple: to ensure that every student in the Gorham Schools has access to caring, knowledgeable, and highly skilled educators who are prepared to help them succeed, not only today but in a rapidly changing future. Great schools don't happen by accident. Great people build them and never stop learning, growing, and working together for children. Thank you for helping us make that possible!
UPDATED CONCERT DATES FOR 2026-2027
I shared this list earlier in September, but there have been a few additions, so I wanted to share it again. Check out this comprehensive list of all concert dates for the 2026-2027 School Year and mark your calendars!
PK-5 - Recently, I had the opportunity to observe an elementary classroom lesson. During my observation, a student in our Functional Life Skills program entered the room with an adult support staff member. Students stopped what they were doing and excitedly said hi to the student. Students asked to give high-fives (which were granted). The student joined their peers during a reading/spelling lesson and during circle time. Classmates positioned themselves as this student's partner, and it was clear this student was a popular part of their peer group. The acceptance of this student's differences was crystal clear. Lessons many of us as adults could learn from!
6-8 - Recently, a group of 8th grade students came to a SC meeting and presented their work as docents for an Anne Frank program conducted at our school. These students were articulate; they were passionate, and they clearly cared about what they were doing. When questions were asked, they didn't skip a beat and responded with care and enthusiasm, answering fully with examples. Clear voices. Eye contact. And engagement was clear. Don't believe me - check it out by CLICKING HERE (under admin reports)
9-12 - Recently, a small group of students who have been working to improve our School Lunch program at GHS approached me to share what they were trying to do and ask my advice on how to proceed. They asked great questions: how to prepare, what data to collect, and how best to advocate for what they wanted to see happen. They didn't make demands. They were extremely respectful, yet clear they felt things could change/improve. They had a clear vision, understood they had to work for positive change, and were/are willing to do it. I am very sure they will get where they want to be...their determination and passion were clear!
These are just three small examples of the incredible things I have the privilege of witnessing every day in our Gorham Schools. What stands out to me isn't simply what our students know, but who they are becoming. They are becoming kind, compassionate, confident young people who are finding their voices and learning how to make a positive difference in the world around them. These moments remind me why we do what we do and why I am so incredibly proud to serve this school community. Our future is in wonderful hands, Gorham! Thank you for being such an important part of helping our students learn, grow, and shine!
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