← Gorham Guardian · All findings
Severity: elevated · Category: staffing · Last updated: Feb 27, 2026
Q74 (originally Q58) asked about the Facilities Director's apparent +39% raise AND the Transportation Director's +$20K raise. The district explained the Facilities line jump was an accounting artifact from splitting one job into two departments. That checks out — but the total cost of going from one person to multiple positions (Facilities Director + Transportation Director + Route Coordinator) was never disclosed.
Q&A Q74 (originally numbered Q58) asked about the Facilities Director's apparent +39% raise and the Transportation Director's +$20K raise.
District's response: • Prior to FY26, one person managed both departments — salary split 75% Facilities / 25% Transportation • FY26 created separate Facilities Director and Transportation Director positions • The apparent 39% increase on the Facilities line is an accounting artifact — actual raise was 4%
Not disclosed: The Transportation Director's $20K increase was not clearly addressed. The total combined cost of all positions replacing the single dual-role director — Facilities Director (Norm Justice, p.70), Transportation Director (Mitzii Smith, p.73), and Route Coordinator — was never stated.
Facilities line item explained as reallocation (4% actual raise) — but total cost of splitting one job into multiple positions remains undisclosed
Document: Budget Workshop Q&A + FY27 Budget Book
Reference: Q&A Question 74 (originally Q58) · Budget Book p.70 (Facilities) · p.73 (Transportation)
Q&A: School Committee Q&A Document (gorhamschools.org) — Q74 (was Q58 in the February Q&A)
Asked: Q74 (originally Q58): Can you explain why it looks like the Transportation Director is getting a $20,000 raise after 1 year of employment and the Facilities Director is getting a $40,000 raise after losing the added responsibilities of Transportation Director last year?
District answer: The district explained that prior to FY26, one person managed both departments with salary split 75/25 between Facilities and Transportation. When Transportation was separated into its own department in FY26, the full Facilities salary moved to one budget line. Both directors received the same standard 4% admin increase — the apparent large raise is an accounting artifact of the departmental reallocation.
Analyst note: The Facilities line item question was answered accurately — the 39% appearance was an accounting artifact from the departmental split, not an actual raise. However, Q58 also asked about the Transportation Director's $20K increase, which was not clearly addressed. More importantly, no one has disclosed the total cost of splitting one dual-role position into a Facilities Director (Norm Justice), Transportation Director (Mitzii Smith), and Route Coordinator — three positions where there was previously one. The per-line explanation was transparent; the full fiscal impact of the reorganization was…