November 6, 2026
Dear District Community,
Following the results of the election on November 4, 2026, our district is facing a significant financial reality. With the failure of the proposed mill levy and the expiration of our current mill, we are confronting an immediate $1.3 million budget deficit. We are writing to you today to be fully transparent about our next steps and how we plan to navigate this challenge together. These immediate actions are grounded in our commitment of keeping our core values of kids first, valuing and investing in people, transparency, safety, and communication at the
forefront while facing our financial reality.
Throughout the election process and our recent conversations, we listened closely to your feedback. One message resonated above all else: our community deeply values the people who make our schools great. Our teachers, support staff, and administrators are the heart of this district. In honoring that priority, we have carefully evaluated our budget to implement strict operational reductions that will prevent personnel cuts for the remainder of the 2026-2027 school year.
There is an undeniable, heavy cloud of stress and anxiety hanging over our district right now, and we must acknowledge the toll it is taking on our staff. This real fear and uncertainty are actively hindering our ability to do the vital work we are called to do which is ensuring our students receive the engaging, high-quality learning experiences they deserve. The source of this anxiety is heartbreakingly tangible, as said by our students. "I don't understand why so few people voted and they said “no.” Now I am afraid my mom [district employee] is going to lose her job." Other students were overheard expressing similar concerns as they prepared for their
first fall theater production, saying “I am sad because I am afraid this will be our last show.” In these challenging economic times, this is the harsh reality our students and staff are carrying since Tuesday night, and we cannot hope to overcome these obstacles for our students without first recognizing the deep human impact this insecurity has on the dedicated people who serve them.
However, absorbing a $1.3 million deficit without impacting our workforce requires immediate and drastic measures regarding our day-to-day operations. This measure also ensures we do NOT have to reduce the current workforce for the school year 2026-2027.
Effective immediately, the following directives are in place until further notice:
Hiring Freeze
● Complete Hiring Freeze: Implemented immediately across all departments and schools. Any exceptions to this rule will be exceedingly rare (or non-existent) and will require explicit approval from the Superintendent’s Cabinet. District-Wide Spending Freeze
District-Wide Spending Freeze
All discretionary and non-essential spending using district funds is suspended. This includes:
● Curricular Spending: All curriculum adoption processes are paused indefinitely. No new curricular spending will occur.
● Travel & Field Trips: All out-of-state travel that use district funds. Furthermore, any future travel or field trips that use district funds and have not already received formal approval are denied. Athletic travel will remain in effect for 2026-2027.
● Technology: No new staff or student technology or hardware purchases.
● Contractual Services: No new vendor or service contracts will be signed.
● Food Purchases: All food purchases utilizing district funds are suspended (this excludes standard student Food Services operations for free breakfast and lunch).
● Professional Conferences: All professional conferences for all schools and departments that require the use of district funds and have not already been approved are suspended indefinitely.
● Overtime: No employee overtime will be approved.
Exemptions to the Spending Freeze: To ensure our schools remain safe, compliant, and operational for our students, the following critical areas are excluded from the spending freeze:
● Essential operational items, such as cleaning supplies and toiletries.
● Required and critical maintenance for facilities, grounds, and district buses.
● Legally mandated expenses relating to student health, 504 plans, and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
● Grant funded initiatives.
● Employee discounts for the Early Childhood program.
● Student Activity Funds (funds raised by students) and donations will remain available for their designated purposes.
● Any required purchase that is identified in the above “District-Wide Spending Freeze” that is deemed essential for operations may be overridden with Superintendent approval.
Looking Ahead to 2027-2028
While the immediate freezes outlined above will stabilize our budget and protect our staff for the 2026-2027 school year, they are not sustainable long-term solutions for a structural deficit of this size. Additionally, there is uncertainty about state funding changes that will result from state measures NN and Amendment 87. These could alleviate some of the financial stress that we currently face. We also maintain the stance that we will work alongside the community to make a recommendation to the Board of Education to consider a Mill Levy for the November 2027 election.
We pledge to launch a public engagement process beginning in January 2027. We need your voices at the table as we discuss and identify the necessary additional budget cuts for the 2027-2028 school year. More information will be forthcoming about these engagement events.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership with our schools. We are committed to finishing this school year strong for our students. However, we must also be clear about the future: the recent "no" vote guarantees painful, structural cuts to our staff and programs starting next year.
Navigating these unprecedented losses will test our community, but by staying united and transparent, we will ensure our students remain our highest priority every step of the way.
Respectfully,
Justin E. Ralston,
Superintendent