South Portland residents overwhelmingly approved the $76.2 million school budget, 5,787 votes to 1,975.

The budget will result in a 6% property tax increase.

Many city councilors and school board members said that this year’s budget season was particularly difficult and painful. 

The board voted to close James O. Kaler Elementary School and cut nearly 80 positions to shave off about $8.4 million to keep the tax increase to 6%.

School board Vice Chair Adrian Dowling resigned days after recall papers were taken out against him and School Board Chair Rosemarie De Angelis.  

Kristina Grimaldi, the parent of a Helena H. Dyer Elementary School kindergartener, said as she exited the polls at the community center that she voted in support of the school budget. She said she’s been following the process pretty closely, so she’s seen that a lot of work has gone into it.

“I feel like we need the budget to pass to achieve the necessary goals of the district,” she said.

The district remains in flux. 

Angela Atkinson Duina will start as the new superintendent in July, and will oversee the reconfiguration of the school’s elementary schools, a move that was delayed until the 2027-28 school year after residents expressed concern.