Dear Students, Staff, and Families:
Hoping that weather closures are behind us for this year, I think it is safe to say that June 18th is the official last day of school. June 18th is a Wednesday, and we will be having early release on that day. Students will start their summer vacation one hour early, and teachers and staff will have some time to debrief the year’s events and prepare their classrooms for the summer.
Thursday morning, I was fortunate to join B.F. Norton’s Jaguar Dash. It was a beautiful day for the students to get outside and get moving. Other great events are happening throughout the district to celebrate student achievements and have some fun. A list of end-of-year events can be found here. Be sure to keep your eye out for updates from building principals.
Budget season is in full swing. Nationwide, costs across various categories have seen increases in recent years. The school department is not protected from these rising costs. As I am sure you have heard every budget season, Cumberland is the lowest-funded district in the state. What you may not know is that each year the gap widens. Please take some time to view the budget presentation that was presented to the School Committee last evening. A stream of the complete meeting can be viewed on our YouTube channel. We will continue to work closely with Mayor Mutter and the Town Council to ensure the continued success of Cumberland Public Schools.
Sincerely,
Philip D. Thornton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools