The Portland Public Schools invites the community to join us on Saturday, Sept. 21, in celebrating the completion of our Buildings for our Future (BFOF) renovation projects at Presumpscot, Longfellow and Reiche elementary schools!

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies will take place at each school following remarks by school and city officials and members of the community. Afterwards, attendees can tour the beautiful new and improved learning environments that were made possible through the support of Portland voters and school and city leaders and enjoy celebratory activities at each school. Presumpscot’s ribbon-cutting ceremony begins at 10 a.m., Longfellow’s at 11 a.m., and Reiche’s at noon. Come to one or all three!

While the district received certificates of completion for the three schools last school year, new furniture didn’t arrive until over the summer. The Sept. 21 celebrations will now mark an official recognition of the completed renovations.

City voters in 2017 approved a $64 million Buildings for Our Future bond for renovations to Lyseth, Presumpscot, Longfellow and Reiche elementary schools. The renovations to Lyseth were completed in 2021 and a community celebration was held then.

“We can all be proud of what our community has created through this Buildings for our Future initiative,” Superintendent Ryan Scallon said. “These buildings provide our students with the 21st century learning environments they deserve and need to succeed. Students and teachers have access to beautiful and improved learning spaces that are essential to facilitating teaching and learning and to building strong, safe school communities – all of which are foundational to the equity, achievement and whole student goals of our new strategic plan.”

The Portland Public Schools is Maine’s largest school district, with more than 6,600 students, and it’s also the most diverse. About one-third of the district’s students come from homes where languages other than English are spoken—a total of 53 languages. Approximately 48 percent of the district’s students are white and 52 percent are students of color. Nearly half of PPS students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.