Portland Public Schools should spend down its savings account rather than cut physical education teachers in the face of a $19 million cut in state spending, the school board was told repeatedly Tuesday during a packed budget hearing.
But board members, including David Wynde, the budget chairman, said the board must hold the line and not spend any more from savings given a looming $50 million shortfall for Portland schools in the next two school years, taking into account state revenue forecasts.
A coalition of physical education-loving health and sports groups have put together a splashy “Save Portland PE” campaign complete with a professional poll, a full-page newspaper ad and a radio advertising blitz.
Pressure is building at Portland Public Schools following Superintendent Carole Smith’s announcement last week that the school district might eliminate wholesale programs like physical education or art, music and other electives at elementary, middle and K-8 schools.
The superintendent proposed those cuts to help fill the district’s $19 million budget hole for next year.
A public opinion poll conducted over the weekend finds overwhelming opposition to Portland Public Schools’ budget-cutting plans.
District officials have suggested eliminating physical education in the lower grades as one way to help absorb a $19 million state budget cut. But a new survey has found that 86 percent of Portlanders oppose balancing the budget by cutting PE.