Principal Mike McCarthy introduces Mr. King to the students of Windsor 8 during a visit by the former governor to King. Mr. King's foundation is providing free and reduced internet access to all students in Maine. Click here to apply for free or reduced internet service.

School Committee unanimously approves new budget; City Council schedules public comments on budget for April 16 April 9
The proposed 2010 budget reduces local tax burden

The Portland School Committee has unanimously approved a fiscal year 2010 budget that reduces reliance on local property tax revenue by nearly $1 million while maintaining programs, supporting strategic planning, updating a portion of the bus fleet and making modest improvements in technology.

The Portland City Council will receive the $91.4 million budget on April 6. A public hearing will be held on April 16 at 5 p.m. in the Deering High School cafeteria. The council is scheduled to vote on the school budget on May 4, and a public referendum will take place on May 12.

A 2 percent increase in the fiscal year 2010 school budget will be more than offset by a projected rise in Portland's state subsidy funding. As a result, the portion of the school budget paid by local property taxes will decline by $880,750.

"We have worked hard to prepare a budget that addresses taxpayer concerns during these difficult economic times while still meeting the needs of our 7,000 students," said School Committee Chairman Peter Eglinton.

"We are committed to responsible budgeting," said Portland Interim Superintendent Jeanne Whynot-Vickers. "We are dedicating $600,000 towards restoring our fund balance, which is important for our financial stability."

"Federal stimulus money anticipated in the summer will provide an opportunity to enhance learning through one-time purchases of software programs and training to continue to develop personalized learning plans for all students," said Whynot-Vickers. "Curriculum materials and staff who can provide a strong intervention program for our struggling learners also will be available for this short time period. The anticipated stimulus money will help us to keep our fiscal year 2010 budget trim while providing targeted services for students."

The budget will cut 17 locally funded positions and move other staff members to areas of greatest need. The renegotiation of the teachers' contract with the Portland Education Association last spring will save nearly $1 million in salary and benefit increases during fiscal year 2010.

"The proposed fiscal year 2010 budget is fiscally responsible while maintaining and building on the strong teaching and learning within Portland's schools," said Kate Snyder, who chairs the School Committee's Finance Committee. "It continues to address restoration of the fund balance, while providing the School Committee and incoming superintendent some financial flexibility intended to support district-wide strategic initiatives. In addition, we've laid the groundwork for launching an elementary foreign language program in 2011."

Detailed information about the Portland school budget may be found at www.portlandschools.org.

Casting information for Katastrophe Kate

Q - When do I audition?
A - All 6th graders and Windsor 8 will audition one at a time in front of and audience of only Mr. Michaud in room 117 on Monday, Feb. 2 starting at 2:30. The auditions will take place on a first come - first serve basis, with special accomodations being made for students who need to leave at a certain time. All 7th graders and York 8 will Audition Tuesday, Feb. 3 under the same parameters. Wednesday, February 4 at 3:30 is the final opportunity for ANY student to audition. Call-backs willk take place on Thursday starting at 2:30, and the cast will be posted by noon on Friday, Feb. 5. There will be a full cast meeting on Friday, Feb. 5, from 2:30 -3:30.

Q - What do I need to audition?
A - You must fill out a blue audition application and be sure to attach a photo if you’re not POSITIVE that Mr. Michaud knows what you look like. Also, you must pick up an audition form. All forms are located on the table across from room 117. If you are auditioning for a singing role as a soloist or part of a small group, you must also be prepared to sing a song of your choosing. A CD player will be available to those who wish to use it.

Q - Do I have to memorize the audition form?
A - Yes or No. Yes if you are auditioning for a speaking role. No if you just wish to be an extra. But keep this in mind...In ten years of directing the school play, I have given dozens of speaking roles to kids who said they only wanted to be extas...BE CONFIDENT!

Q - Will you be double casting?
A - No. There are over 40 speaking roles in this musical.

Q - What if I want to run track? can I also do Theater?
A - Yes. Students who wish to run track will be casted as extras only. They will need to be at rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They may attend track practice on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This agreement is made possible through the cooperation of Mr. Butler, the winter track coach.

Q - What if I want to be on the crew?
A - Easy. Just come to the auditions. When it’s your turn, come into my room and just tell me you want to be on the crew. I will then tell you what being on crew entails - but I would prefer that you just be in the play as an extra! All extras can be crew members also if needed.

Q - Is there going to be a meeting before auditions so we can meet Mr. Michaud and ask any other questions we might have?
A - Yes. There will be a meeting for all students interested in participating in any way on Friday, January 30, from 2:30 - 3:30 in the cafeteria.

Q - What are the dates of the performances?
A - See the King Calendar on the homepage.

The Telling Room presents new free workhops

To register or for more information, please contact us at 774-6064 or email andrew@tellingroom.org. For more info about the Telling Room, visit their website.

On the Street: Writing and Photography
Grades 6 -12
Thursdays, February 5th, 12th, 26th, March 5th, 12th, 19th
3:30 -5:00 p.m.
Taught by The Telling Room Staff, guest authors, and photographers.
What's the word on the street? How do we talk about the streets and neighborhoods that we walk through every day? Using The Telling Room's digital cameras and our notepads we will explore the streets in search of the stories, real and invented, that are on every corner. We'll learn about framing a picture and how images and words together can create a powerful narrative. This workshop is connected to our yearlong project, "On the Streets Where You Live." Participation in these workshops may produce work that we will publish or make available to the public, with permission of the student artists.

Songwriting
Grades 6 - 12
Wednesdays, Feb 4th, 11th, 25th, March 4th
3:00- 5:00 p.m.
Join local singer-songwriter Emilia Dahlin and hip-hop artist Sontiago in this four-week song writing workshop and hear your own words turn into actual song lyrics. Ever wondered how words transfer from the brain, to the paper, to the radio airwaves? Haven't you always wondered how your favorite artists came up with such catchy lines? You'll take part in creating an original song and watching it come to life. Learn how melodies, verses, and choruses develop into a final product.
This workshop is connected to our yearlong project, "On the Streets Where You Live." Participation in these workshops may produce work that we will publish or make available to the public, with permission of the student artists.

Documentary Shorts: Filming the Old Port
Tuesdays, 3:00-5 pm. February 3rd, 10th, 24th, and March 3rd, and 10th.
Grades 7 - 12
Come along with local filmmakers Cecily Pingree and Brooke Brewer and turn video cameras on the wharves and streets off Commercial Street. Interview the shopkeepers and personalities of the Old Port as you choose how to frame scenes of this important Portland downtown neighborhood.
This workshop is connected to our yearlong project, "On the Streets Where You Live." Participation in these workshops may produce work that we will publish or make available to the public, with permission of the student artists.

Former Maine governor, Angus King, announces free home internet access for 7th and 8th graders
The text of Mr. King's letter, including enrollment information, is reprinted below.

Dear Principals and Technology Coordinators,

Free dial-up home internet access is available again this year for all of your 7th and 8th grade students (or high school students if you are a MLTI 1:1 high school) who are eligible for free or reduced price lunch. We have tried to make the application and set-up procedures as quick and easy as possible in order to maximize the number of students participating in the program. The (one page!) application form can be found here.

This service is being provided through a cooperative agreement between Great Works Internet and the Maine Learning Technology Foundation, a privately funded non-profit set up to support ancillary services associated with MLTI.

We hope that you will encourage your eligible students to take advantage of this offer; home access is an important part of the MLTI experience which is available to most of your students but effectively denied to those who can't afford it. Anything you can do to spread the word on this offer--through teachers and directly to the students and their parents--would be great.

This offer also includes discounted broadband access for students eligible for the program.

On a personal note, I want to express my deepest thanks for your support and encouragement of MLTI over the past five years. I have to come realize that the real success of the program has been due entirely to our dedicated and creative educators and the leadership in the building. The progress of MLTI has taught me a new leadership principle--that execution is as important as inspiration. For your role in building what is now generally considered the premier digital education program in the world, you have my everlasting thanks.

Now let's get all those kids on-line!

With warmest best wishes,

Angus King

Chair, Maine Learning Technology Foundation

King students participate in statewide mock election Oct 30

King students elect Tom Allen for Senate, Chellie Pingree for the House, and Barack Obama for President by an overwhelming margin.

The statewide student mock elections were conducted today at King by the students of York 6 as part of their Rock the Vote expedition.

Each classroom in the school was assigned to a state, with the state's number of electoral votes. Students and teachers in all grades and in every house went to the cafeteria to cast their ballots.

The results below were made available at 2:00 pm.