By Chris Nelson, District Administrator
In April, our community voted on an operational referendum to help our district exceed the state revenue limit and maintain the programming and services our students rely on. That referendum did not pass. Since then, the district has worked hard to respond responsibly to our budget reality, and the Board of Education has now approved a revised referendum question that will appear on the ballot on Nov. 3.
We want to be transparent with you about where things stand, what has changed since April, and why community support this fall is so important.
What has happened since April
Without the additional funding the referendum would have provided, the district has had to make a series of difficult reductions to balance our budget: Eliminated two full-time teaching positions, reduced an educational assistant position, reduced coaching positions, implemented a wage freeze for all employees, and delayed maintenance projects.
These were not decisions made lightly. Each of these cuts affects real people – teachers who support our students every day, coaches who build character and community through athletics, and staff members who have gone without a raise to help the district stay fiscally sound. Delayed maintenance means facility needs continue to accumulate rather than being addressed on schedule.
A revised request
After listening to community feedback and carefully reviewing the district’s needs, the Board of Education has revised the referendum amounts for the November ballot. The new four-year non-recurring operational referendum proposal is: 2026-27 $1,200,000, 2027-28 $1,500,000, 2028-29 $1,500,000, 2029-30 $1,500,000.
This is a meaningfully smaller request than what was on the April ballot. The Board worked to find a figure that reflects genuine district needs while being mindful of the concerns raised by voters this spring.

Why this still matters
Our community has a strong history of supporting our schools, from the 2016 and 2020 operational referendums to capital improvements that have upgraded our facilities. That support has helped our district achieve real progress. It has helped improve academic performance on state assessments and school report cards, and extracurricular programs recognized at state and national levels.
The cuts made since April are already affecting our ability to maintain that progress. Without additional support in November, the district may need to consider further reductions, which could mean larger class sizes, fewer course and program offerings, continued strain on staff retention, and further delays to necessary facility maintenance.
Moving forward together
We understand that asking again so soon after April may raise questions, and we want to answer them openly. The Board revised this proposal specifically in response to community input, and we are committed to being clear about how these funds would be used and how they compare to what was requested in the spring.
In the coming weeks, we will share additional information, including detailed budget breakdowns, comparisons to the April proposal, and opportunities for community members to ask questions directly to district leadership.
Our schools are a shared responsibility and a shared investment. We are grateful for this community’s history of support, and we hope you’ll take the time to learn more before voting on Nov. 3.