2025 Balancing Act Summary

School budgets were reduced by 10% going into the 2024-25 school year.  Building budgets include supplies as well as additional labor costs which are subject to bargaining.

Should building budgets be reduced by 5%?

Yes – 66.6%
No – 33.4%

$43,000 decrease to expenditures

Stipends are provided to staff to support intermediate elementary students participating in safety patrol.

Should the district eliminate safety patrol?

Yes – 67.1%
No –32.9%

$100,000 decrease to expenditures

A teacher on special assignment (TOSA) provides support to other teachers in certain curricular areas.

Should the district eliminate TOSAs charged to basic education?

Yes – 80.3%
No – 19.7%

$72,000 decrease to expenditures

The district office is open to the public with reduced hours starting this year.  We could close the building except by appointment and implement an automated phone menu.

Should the district eliminate the receptionist function at the ESC (Educational Service Center)?

Yes – 83.8%
No –  6.2%

$88,000 decrease to expenditures

Substance abuse prevention and intervention at the high school level.

Should the prevention/intervention specialist position be eliminated?

Yes – 63.8%
No – 36.2%

$112,000 decrease to expenditures

Student Intervention Coordinators (SInCs) are allocated to elementary schools based on school size, Title I and poverty status, and certain special education programs.  SInCs were reduced going into the 2024-25 school year.

Should the district eliminate the student intervention coordinators at the elementary schools?

Yes – 88.2%
No – 11.8%

$1.1M decrease to expenditures

The district provides elementary band and orchestra instruction to 6th graders in addition to general music instruction.

Should the district cut 6th grade band and orchestra?

Yes – 45.1%
No – 54.9%

$780,000 decrease to expenditures

Multi-age musical concerts in each of the 4 regions of the district.

Should the district eliminate quad concerts?

Yes – 49.4%
No – 50.6% 

$17,000 decrease to expenditures

The district provides an allocation to middle and high schools for intramural activities.

Should the district eliminate the allocation for intramurals?

Yes – 55.7%
No – 44.3%

$14,000 decrease to expenditures

Middle school athletics consists of track, cross-country, volleyball, basketball, soccer, football, wrestling and fastpitch.  Participation fees were increased (doubled) going into the 2024-25 school year.

Should the district eliminate middle school athletics?

Yes – 72.7%
No – 27.3%

$315,000 decrease to expenditures

Students are currently provided time for seated breakfast.  If the district changed to a grab n go breakfast model, less supervision would be needed during that time.

Should the district change seated breakfast to a grab and go model?

Yes – 72.4%
No – 27.6%

$50,000 decrease to expenditures

The district is delaying most curriculum adoptions previously scheduled for the 25-26 school year.  This item would delay the planned health curriculum adoption.

Should the district delay the health curriculum adoption?

Yes – 77.7%
No – 22.3%

$100,000 decrease to expenditures