Quest for data on school grants stymies council

Portland Press Herald, March 19, 2008

(excerpt) When the council's finance committee pressed Whynot-Vickers for grant information again last week, she promised to come through by the end of March. She said it would be impossible, however, to give them an accurate, year-to-year comparison of grant-funded positions over the last decade, as councilors have requested.

Councilors said they want the grant information before they ask voters to consider the 2008-09 school budget in a first-time referendum on May 13, which is required under the state's new school consolidation law.

The council reviews the school budget and sets the bottom line.

City Budget Director Ellen Sanborn, who has been overseeing school finances since August, said the grant documentation that councilors want doesn't exist, has been lost or is inaccurate.

"I wouldn't trust it," Sanborn told committee members.

Mayor Edward Suslovic said he found Sanborn's revelation "a bit shocking. Hopefully, it tells how far we've come."

The district's failure to track grant-funded positions came to light during the budget crisis, which led to the resignation of the schools' superintendent and finance director.