Q16 (originally Q12): Under the Gorham High School budget narrative (pg. 63), it states the proposal of 2.5 full-time equivalent. I only see narratives for Social Studies and World Languages. Is the Health teacher no longer being requested?
The district disclosed the full four-position, two-year plan: FY27 adds Social Studies + 0.5 World Languages. FY28 plans to add Health/PE + English. The Superintendent confirmed: 'We didn't want to wait and request all of them in one year.' In year 2 or 3, a math teacher will also be needed.
The district answered fully when asked — credit where due. However, the answer confirms the concern: the Superintendent chose to defer Health/PE (429:1 ratio) and the brochure voters read did not disclose that FY28 already has $190K in anticipated costs. The public voted on FY27 without knowing a four-position plan is already in motion. This is a textbook example of cost-deferral budgeting: deliberately underfund Year 1 to reduce the visible cost voters see, then add the deferred costs in Year 2 when they are no longer subject to a referendum vote. The technique makes each individual year's budget look smaller while committing the district to a larger multi-year spending trajectory that no single vote has ever authorized.
#13 — Gorham High School Two-Year Staffing Plan Conceals ~$190K in FY28 Costs