Tim Nangle: Keeping our promise to students

By Senator Tim Nangle

Back-to-school season is here. Families are checking supply lists, arranging transportation and getting ready for the return of familiar routines. Teachers and staff are preparing classrooms, buses and cafeterias. Students are looking toward the first day with a mix of excitement, anticipation and nerves.

State Senator Tim Nangle

This season also comes with real pressures. Families are stretching household budgets to cover clothes, supplies and other expenses. School districts are working to recruit staff and meet rising costs for transportation, special education and everyday operations. Municipal leaders are trying to support strong schools without placing an unsustainable burden on property taxpayers.

During the 132nd Legislature, we took important steps to help our schools meet those challenges while keeping our commitment to Maine communities.

Importantly, we maintained the state’s share of funding for K-12 public education at 55 percent. That commitment matters. When the state pays its share and meets its obligations, communities do not have to rely as heavily on local property taxes to fund their schools.

As a former Windham town councilor, I have seen how decisions made in Augusta affect municipal budgets. When the state falls short on education funding, the responsibility lands on towns, school districts and local property taxpayers. Maintaining the 55-percent commitment at the state level helps reduce that pressure while also giving schools greater stability as they plan for the year ahead.

We also made the first major changes to Maine’s school funding formula in roughly 20 years. The updated formula better reflects differences among Maine communities, provides greater support to many rural areas and reduces the expected property tax burden for many Mainers. For RSU 14, which serves Windham and Raymond, estimates based on FY 2027 data show the updated formula increasing the state’s contribution by approximately $184,000 in the next school year. That means additional state support for our local schools, as they work to provide every student with a strong education.

Supporting our schools also means supporting the people who make them work. We approved a phased increase in Maine’s minimum teacher salary, which will reach $50,000 by the fall of 2029. This approach gives districts time to prepare while helping Maine recruit and retain talented educators. Teachers should be able to build a life in the same communities where they have dedicated their careers to helping young people build theirs.

We also worked to make the school day safer. The budget includes $5.9 million to install additional safety features on school buses across Maine. As Senate chair of the Transportation Committee, I was proud to help pass this bill through our committee. We also strengthened statewide coordination and emergency planning through the Maine School Safety Center. We know that a safe school day begins before students walk through the doors.

Our work did not stop at high school graduation. We protected access to early college programs, which are particularly important for rural and underserved students. We also made Maine’s Free Community College Program permanent for students who graduate from a Maine high school. These programs help students earn credentials, reduce debt and prepare for the jobs Maine communities need.

As another school year begins, I want to thank the teachers, education technicians, bus drivers, food service workers, custodians, administrators, parents and volunteers who help Maine students succeed. Most of all, I wish every student a safe, rewarding and successful year.

Our responsibility as lawmakers is to make sure the state’s commitment to them lasts well beyond the first bell.

As always, if you have questions, concerns or ideas for how state government can work better for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact me directly at [email protected] or call my Senate office at 207-287-1515.

State Senator Tim Nangle represents District 26 including Windham, Raymond, Casco, Frye Island, and part of Westbrook.

The opinions in this column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of The Windham Eagle newspaper ownership or its staff. <