Every Voice Matters: Vote on June 9
On Tuesday, June 9, our community will have an important opportunity to help shape the future of our schools by voting on the proposed school budget referendum.
This vote is about more than numbers on a page—it is about investing in the students, staff, programs, and opportunities that make our schools strong and our community vibrant. The proposed budget is designed to support quality educational experiences, maintain essential services, and ensure that our schools continue to meet the needs of all learners.
Strong schools are the foundation of a strong community. They help attract families, support local economic growth, and prepare the next generation for success. The decisions we make today will have a lasting impact on the opportunities available to our students tomorrow.
Whether you are a parent, taxpayer, staff member, alumni, business owner, or community supporter, your voice matters. Participating in the referendum is one of the most direct ways to influence the future of public education in our community.
Please remember to vote on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
Together, we support our schools and our community. Together, we build a bright future.
Vote June 9. Every voice matters.
On Tuesday, June 9, our community will have an important opportunity to help shape the future of our schools by voting on the proposed school budget referendum.
This vote is about more than numbers on a page—it is about investing in the students, staff, programs, and opportunities that make our schools strong and our community vibrant. The proposed budget is designed to support quality educational experiences, maintain essential services, and ensure that our schools continue to meet the needs of all learners.
Strong schools are the foundation of a strong community. They help attract families, support local economic growth, and prepare the next generation for success. The decisions we make today will have a lasting impact on the opportunities available to our students tomorrow.
Whether you are a parent, taxpayer, staff member, alumni, business owner, or community supporter, your voice matters. Participating in the referendum is one of the most direct ways to influence the future of public education in our community.
Please remember to vote on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
Together, we support our schools and our community. Together, we build a bright future.
Vote June 9. Every voice matters.
Aligning Resources with Enrollment: Building a Sustainable Budget for MSAD 11
The FY 2026–2027 budget reflects the difficult but necessary work of aligning district resources with changing student enrollment while continuing to address rising operational costs. Over the past several years, MSAD 11 has experienced a steady decline in enrollment, resulting in fewer students to serve and changing demands across grade levels and programs. As a result, the district has carefully reviewed staffing, programming, and operational expenditures to ensure resources are aligned with current student needs.
Importantly, the proposed FY 2026–2027 budget includes no new positions. The budget focuses on maintaining essential services while managing significant cost increases that are largely outside of the district's control. Rising health insurance costs, the State of Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave requirements, MaineCare SEED obligations, transportation expenses, contracted special education services, and substitute staffing all contribute to increased budget pressures. These required increases total more than $900,000.
To offset these unavoidable cost increases and maintain long-term financial sustainability, the district implemented staffing and organizational reductions across multiple areas of the school system. These decisions were not made lightly. Each position and expenditure was evaluated based on enrollment trends, student needs, operational efficiency, and the district's ability to continue providing a high-quality educational experience for students.
Throughout the budget development process, approximately $2.4 million in reductions were identified and incorporated into the budget. These reductions reflect the district's commitment to responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources while adapting to enrollment declines and fiscal realities. The goal is not simply to reduce spending, but to ensure that district resources are aligned with current enrollment and positioned to support students in a financially sustainable manner.
Key Message
The proposed FY 2026–2027 budget adds no new positions, addresses significant mandated and contractual cost increases, and aligns staffing and resources with declining enrollment to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of MSAD 11 while continuing to serve students effectively.
The FY 2026–2027 budget reflects the difficult but necessary work of aligning district resources with changing student enrollment while continuing to address rising operational costs. Over the past several years, MSAD 11 has experienced a steady decline in enrollment, resulting in fewer students to serve and changing demands across grade levels and programs. As a result, the district has carefully reviewed staffing, programming, and operational expenditures to ensure resources are aligned with current student needs.
Importantly, the proposed FY 2026–2027 budget includes no new positions. The budget focuses on maintaining essential services while managing significant cost increases that are largely outside of the district's control. Rising health insurance costs, the State of Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave requirements, MaineCare SEED obligations, transportation expenses, contracted special education services, and substitute staffing all contribute to increased budget pressures. These required increases total more than $900,000.
To offset these unavoidable cost increases and maintain long-term financial sustainability, the district implemented staffing and organizational reductions across multiple areas of the school system. These decisions were not made lightly. Each position and expenditure was evaluated based on enrollment trends, student needs, operational efficiency, and the district's ability to continue providing a high-quality educational experience for students.
Throughout the budget development process, approximately $2.4 million in reductions were identified and incorporated into the budget. These reductions reflect the district's commitment to responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources while adapting to enrollment declines and fiscal realities. The goal is not simply to reduce spending, but to ensure that district resources are aligned with current enrollment and positioned to support students in a financially sustainable manner.
Key Message
The proposed FY 2026–2027 budget adds no new positions, addresses significant mandated and contractual cost increases, and aligns staffing and resources with declining enrollment to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of MSAD 11 while continuing to serve students effectively.
MSAD 11 continues to operate as one of the lower-spending school districts in Maine when measured by resident expenditures per pupil. According to 2024–2025 Maine Department of Education expenditure data, MSAD 11 ranks 199th out of 261 school districts statewide in total per-pupil expenditures, meaning that 198 districts spend more per student and only 62 districts spend less.
Across individual expenditure categories, MSAD 11 generally ranks in the middle to lower half of Maine districts. The district's highest spending rank is in Student & Staff Support (75th), followed by Transportation (106th) and Other Instruction (116th). Expenditures for Facilities & Maintenance (127th) and School Administration (136th) are near the statewide midpoint, while spending for Special Education (167th), Regular Instruction (184th), and System Administration (220th) remains below most Maine districts. These rankings demonstrate a consistent pattern of fiscal restraint across major operational areas.
To provide additional context, MSAD 11's current spending levels were compared to neighboring districts using the district's enrollment of 1,718 students. If MSAD 11 spent at the same per-pupil rate as the statewide average, the district's budget would increase by approximately $6.36 million. Matching the spending levels of neighboring districts would result in estimated budget increases ranging from approximately $2.64 million to $6.51 million, depending on the district used for comparison.
These comparisons illustrate that MSAD 11 delivers educational services while maintaining expenditure levels that are significantly below many neighboring districts and below the majority of districts across the State of Maine. The data suggest that the district's overall spending profile remains comparatively conservative when evaluated on a per-student basis.
Across individual expenditure categories, MSAD 11 generally ranks in the middle to lower half of Maine districts. The district's highest spending rank is in Student & Staff Support (75th), followed by Transportation (106th) and Other Instruction (116th). Expenditures for Facilities & Maintenance (127th) and School Administration (136th) are near the statewide midpoint, while spending for Special Education (167th), Regular Instruction (184th), and System Administration (220th) remains below most Maine districts. These rankings demonstrate a consistent pattern of fiscal restraint across major operational areas.
To provide additional context, MSAD 11's current spending levels were compared to neighboring districts using the district's enrollment of 1,718 students. If MSAD 11 spent at the same per-pupil rate as the statewide average, the district's budget would increase by approximately $6.36 million. Matching the spending levels of neighboring districts would result in estimated budget increases ranging from approximately $2.64 million to $6.51 million, depending on the district used for comparison.
These comparisons illustrate that MSAD 11 delivers educational services while maintaining expenditure levels that are significantly below many neighboring districts and below the majority of districts across the State of Maine. The data suggest that the district's overall spending profile remains comparatively conservative when evaluated on a per-student basis.
Understanding How MSAD 11 Costs are Shared 06.01.2026
MSAD #11 Transportation Newsletter ~ June, 2026
Our June menu
Good morning HT Families,
We just wanted to let you know that we evacuated the building due to an air ventilation question. The fire department and Director of Operations thoroughly checked the building to ensure that there's no risk to students and staff. The situation has been cleared and classes will resume.
Sincerely,
Angela Hardy,
Assistant Superintendent
We just wanted to let you know that we evacuated the building due to an air ventilation question. The fire department and Director of Operations thoroughly checked the building to ensure that there's no risk to students and staff. The situation has been cleared and classes will resume.
Sincerely,
Angela Hardy,
Assistant Superintendent
REMINDER: MSAD 11 will have an early release day tomorrow, May 20, 2026. GRMS and GAHS will dismiss around 11:00 am, and elementary schools at 12:00 p.m. There will be no PREK classes.
Currently, there is no electrical power at the MSAD1 1 Central Office. CMP expects the power to be restored at 8:15 am.
Enjoy our May & June Newsletter!
Coming Soon to Gardiner Area High School! The Tiger Health Center will open in the Fall of 2026. Services including primary care, sports physicals, vaccinations, mental and reproductive health, and more!
More information can be found online at the HealthReach Community Health Center Website - https://www.healthreach.org/our-locations/tiger-health-center/
The April 2026 MSAD11 Central Office Newsletter is online now. Click this link: https://bit.ly/4dlG5GH
Our May menu
2026-2027 PreK Information Night for Parents!
Wednesday, April 29th, 6:00 pm, in the Laura Richards School Gym, 279 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner.
We will be introducing you to the MSAD #11 PreK program and sharing a slide show about a typical day here at school. This is a night for parents and guardians only, to meet the staff and ask questions. We will also explain the screening process, its purpose, and how the results inform us about students' readiness. If you have an incoming PreK student, please join us!
If you have not yet registered your child for PreK, please call the LER Office at (207) 582-3612 as soon as possible. Space is limited!
Wednesday, April 29th, 6:00 pm, in the Laura Richards School Gym, 279 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner.
We will be introducing you to the MSAD #11 PreK program and sharing a slide show about a typical day here at school. This is a night for parents and guardians only, to meet the staff and ask questions. We will also explain the screening process, its purpose, and how the results inform us about students' readiness. If you have an incoming PreK student, please join us!
If you have not yet registered your child for PreK, please call the LER Office at (207) 582-3612 as soon as possible. Space is limited!
2026–2027 School Budget Update
Budget documents from the April 14, 2026 Finance Committee meeting are now available for review. These materials reflect the committee’s discussion and recommendations at that time.
Please note that the School Board has not yet finalized the 2026–2027 budget. Final adoption is expected at an upcoming Board meeting.
You can view the documents here:
https://www.msad11.org/documents/2026---2027-school-budget/04.14.2026-finance-committee/26816012
We encourage community members to review the materials and stay informed as the budget process continues.
Budget documents from the April 14, 2026 Finance Committee meeting are now available for review. These materials reflect the committee’s discussion and recommendations at that time.
Please note that the School Board has not yet finalized the 2026–2027 budget. Final adoption is expected at an upcoming Board meeting.
You can view the documents here:
https://www.msad11.org/documents/2026---2027-school-budget/04.14.2026-finance-committee/26816012
We encourage community members to review the materials and stay informed as the budget process continues.
MSAD #11 Transportation Newsletter ~ April, 2026
📊 MSAD 11 Finance Committee – 2026–2027 Budget Discussions
The MSAD 11 Finance Committee has begun its work on the 2026–2027 school budget. Community members are encouraged to stay informed throughout the process.
🗂 Budget Materials & Meeting Documents:
All Finance Committee meeting agendas, presentations, and supporting documents will be posted here:
👉2026 - 2027 Budget Process (Finance Committee Meetings)
🗓 Ongoing Discussions:
Meetings will be held regularly as the committee reviews priorities, examines financial data, and develops the proposed budget.
💬 Get Involved:
Residents, families, and staff are encouraged to follow along and stay engaged as the budget process moves forward.
Updates will continue to be shared as new information becomes available.
— MSAD 11 Finance Committee
Enjoy our April newsletter!
We were the lucky winners of Northeast Nutrition & Energy's weekly Tea Drop! Thank you for delivering a round of teas for all of our staff!
Our April menu
