The proposed $40.6 million budget to operate the MSAD35 school district in 2026-27 received final approval from the Board of Directors at its April 29 meeting.
The spending plan is 4.33%, or $1.6 million, over this year’s budget of $38.9 million.
Voters in South Berwick and Eliot will decide at the Annual District Meeting 7 p.m. Monday, May 11, at Marshwood High School whether to send the recommended budget to final referendum vote by secret ballot in both communities on June 9.
Heidi Early-Hersey, interim superintendent, said in a letter emailed Friday to Marshwood district parents that budget increases are organized into three categories. The same benchmarks were used by board members to establish budget priorities during the budget development process, Early-Hersey explained during her initial budget presentation on March 11.
The first, listed as Base Adjustments and Roll Forward, accounts for over $1.1 million of the $1.6 million total increases.
Of that amount, contractual salary increases of 3% to 3.8% for about 400 employees total $775,707. Increases in other fixed expenses account for the remaining $373,693 in that category.
The board allocated $284,000 to a second category, called Strategic Investments and Reductions. The funds will be used for targeted changes, said Early-Hersey. These include:
- A restructured leadership and support role at Central School
- Expanded administrative support for the athletic programs
- Funding student experiences such as the Grade 5 Pinkham Notch trip
- A new full-time math interventionist
- A half-time world language teacher
- Additional technology instruction at Marshwood High School
- Replacement of three high mileage vans
- Playground development and improvements at Marshwood Middle School
- Elimination of a Central Office grants position
To allow services to remain consistent while responding to changes in student needs, according Early-Hersey, $255,00 has been allocated to the third category called Level Service Adjustments.
This adjustment includes a $400,000 increase in educational technician positions required to support increased special education enrollment. This amount and a $25,000 increase for athletic trainer services will be offset by the elimination of two half-time positions in science and social studies at the high school as well as $100,000 saved by bus route consolidation.
The only change from the previously announced 2026-27 budget is the reallocation of $42,104 saved due to lower-than-expected health insurance costs, Early-Hersey said. The health insurance increase for next year was originally budgeted at 10%, but based on updated information from the Maine Education Association Benefits Trust, the actual increase was 8.71%.
The school board chose to reallocate $12,104 of the savings to the high school Athletic Department and $30,00 to fully cover the cost of Advanced Placement exams for high school students.
Students attending a budget workshop told the school board the approximately $100 cost of the exam can be a barrier for some, limiting access to academically rigorous opportunities.
“AP exams offer significant benefits,” said Early-Hersey. “Students who earn a score of 3 or more may be eligible to receive college credit, saving both time and tuition costs in the future.”
The Athletic Department allocation is intended to allow up to two additional teams if student interest in any sport exceeds the district’s capacity to accommodate all participants. The goal, she said, is to ensure as many students as possible have access to extracurricular activities that promote physical health, teamwork and student engagement.
Hard copies of Early-Hersey’s letter, which provides a range of information about the school system as well as the budget process, will be available in key locations in both member towns, including town halls and libraries.
Copies of the letter also will be distributed at the Annual District Budget meeting May 11.
The superintendent’s budget book is available on the MSAD 35 website.
