First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who poured their time, energy, and heart into educating our community about our school district’s operational needs leading up to this past week's referendum. To those who organized informational sessions, answered questions, and shared our story: your hard work did not go unnoticed. Beyond helping clearly communicate the difficult financial circumstances our district faces, your engagement and advocacy reminded us of our shared commitment to our schools and students.
At the same time, we recognize that for many in our community, the current economic climate—with rising living expenses impacting households across the board—made this ask difficult to support. We hear those concerns, acknowledge the genuine financial strain many of our neighbors are experiencing, and empathize and understand.
While the referendum result is undoubtedly a setback, it does not mean we can stop seeking solutions or advocating for our schools. We will continue to push strongly for meaningful school funding reform at the state level. In the coming months, we will watch closely to see how new state leadership responds to the needs of public education and whether any financial relief is possible. We know that systemic funding reform takes time, but we remain committed to keeping our community’s voice present in those state-level conversations.
In the meantime, our district must address the immediate reality before us. The Board of Education, administrative team, and school staff will look carefully at how we respond as a district. Over the coming weeks and months, we will thoroughly explore all potential options to manage the ongoing financial challenges we continue to face.
Please know that we will approach every option explored and every decision made with two clear, unwavering priorities: ensuring our students receive the best education and opportunities we can offer, and ensuring our staff members feel valued, supported, and appreciated for the extraordinary work they do every day.
We appreciate your continued partnership, your honest feedback, and your shared dedication to the future of our children and our community as we navigate the path ahead together.
Sincerely,
Michelle Johnson District Administrator
