Being transparent with voters is important to us. This page will review and answer questions we’ve been hearing from residents over the past few weeks. We will continue to add questions and answers as we lead up to election day on November 6.
Because the district’s financial limitations go beyond reduced student enrollment. Lower numbers of students over the past few years would have required the district to make approximately $4 million in budget reductions. Instead, the district has seen $7.5 million in reductions in programs and services to students.
Because state law does not allow bond funding (for buildings) to be used for operating expenses. The money currently being used for construction projects was secured exclusively for needed upgrades to all of our school buildings.
A school must have both safe, functional learning spaces and quality educational programming in order to provide a good education for students. Local residents determine how much funding is available for each when they vote in bond and levy referendum elections.
No. State funding has increased over the past decade, but not by nearly that much, and not as much as the rate of inflation. Actual state funding provided to schools has gone up 14% since 2008. Over that same period of time, inflation increased by 24%.
They do. In fact, over the past four years, the district has made $7.5 million in reductions to staff, programming and services to students. They’ve also looked for, and found, many creative ways to save money or work more efficiently.
On the staff side, budget reductions have come at all levels, from part-time staff to salaried administrators. Many positions have been eliminated, including teachers, paraprofessionals, clerical staff, administrators and more.
