A second attempt to pass the RSU 21 school district budget failed last week. The special town meeting to vote on the proposed $61.7 million budget took place on Aug. 28, with only 1,907 voters turning out in Kennebunk.

The vote was 925 in favor, and 982 against in Kennebunk, with six voters leaving their ballots blank. In Kennebunkport, the vote was 307 in favor and 274 against, and in Arundel, 133 voters were in favor and 191 were against.

In a letter to the RSU 21 community, school board Chair Matthew Stratford said the board and staff “appreciate” the district’s continued engagement as they work together to support area schools.

“Although the budget did not pass, we are ready to re-engage in the budget process,” Stratford wrote in an email to community members. “We are energized by our shared commitment to the district vision, which is to be a collaborative learning community where all students are inspired and equipped to become innovators, lifelong learners, and productive global citizens.”

Stratford added that the board is moving forward with a revised budget that continues the district’s strong tradition of putting its students first.

“Our work will be steady, constructive, and guided by our core values of openness and accountability,” Stratford wrote.

The school year began on Tuesday with no budget, though Stratford said that the district’s focus remains on teaching and learning.

“The board will continue to collaborate with the administration to refine the budget and ensure our schools remain strong,” Stratford wrote.

The original RSU 21 budget of $62.6 million was shot down by voters in June. After trimming nearly $900,000, the board sent it back to vote on Aug. 28.

Throughout the budget process, community members have voiced concerns about the budget, focusing strongly on cutting administrative costs and retaining key positions like a float nurse.

Martine Kalbhenn, whose son Jackson is a cancer survivor and a student in the district, pleaded with community members throughout the budget process to keep a float nurse on staff.

“I am here to ask that the community and the board make sure that the float nurse stays in the budget,” Kalbhenn said in May. “It is imperative that each school have a qualified nurse every day.”

Another parent, Tiffany Doherty, asked the community to keep school resource officers on staff.

“They’re not just there to protect students from shootings, they do so much for our students,” Doherty said.

At a district budget meeting in July, school board members presented a trimmed-back budget, with areas like administration and superintendent symposiums being cut.

It is unclear what areas of the budget will now be trimmed down in order to pass.

In his letter to the district, Stratford said the board is finalizing a date for the next board meeting and budget validation referendum, and will share them as soon as possible.