Edgecomb gains $77K due to state education funding miscalculation

Fri, 03/31/2023 - 8:15am

A Maine Department of Education funding error has resulted in $42 million more received by school districts for Fiscal Year 24. The department reported March 29, an error was made in allocations. The top three recipients of more municipal school funding are Portland, $3,600,104; South Portland, $1,565,104; and Scarborough, $1,554,536. The top three school administrative districts or regional school unit recipients are RSU 21 (Kennebunk), $1,118,224; SAD 6 (Buxton) $1,011,872; and RSU 14 (Windham) $781,021.

A total of 168 school departments received more funding; 95 will see no change. For Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98, only Edgecomb will receive more money. On March 30, Superintendent Bob Kahler confirmed Edgecomb will receive $77,722.67 based on the new calculation. Other AOS 98 members, Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District, Southport and Georgetown school departments, received no additional funds. “The only town in the AOS which was effected by the recalculation of state subsidy was Edgecomb. The remaining towns are minimum receivers, and their subsidy remained the same,” Kahler said.

The Edgecomb School Committee can discuss the additional funding during the committee’s next meeting on Monday, April 10 in the elementary school cafeteria.