On behalf of the MMSD community, thank you to the voters who said yes to our $100 million operational and $507 million facilities referendum questions. We understand the financial challenges that many of us face and know this was not a light decision. We also appreciate the support of our community organizations and partners. Your support is an investment in our students, our community, and public education, and we are very grateful to you.
The yes vote for district operations means we can continue to retain and attract high-quality staff to inspire and educate our students. We can sustain and expand the important programs that we have built to positively impact all our students. This includes 4K and early literacy, multilingual education, middle school opportunities in career exploration, and expansion of co-curricular activities and learning opportunities.
We are excited that 10 of our schools will be transformed with the yes vote for district facilities! These spaces will be designed to provide modern and flexible teaching and learning spaces for our students and staff. Buildings will be accessible and inclusive, and updated heating and cooling will provide comfortable learning environments. Your voices are important, and we will engage the community to help determine the final design of each of these facilities.
As excited as we are, we know that we still have much work ahead. Although the referenda have passed, it’s important for the community to know that we are still operating with a structural deficit. Our revenues are not keeping up with our costs. We, along with other public school districts throughout the state, continue to be grossly underfunded by the state. Our team will come together and engage with the community to determine how to move forward and plan for the future.
We will continue to advocate to our state legislature to provide the much needed funding to support public education. Our students matter. Students across the state matter. All deserve the best education possible. It is the foundation to their overall success and our community’s overall success.
Again, thank you for supporting our students, our staff, our community, and public education.
Sincerely,
Nichelle Nichols Board President |
Dr. Joe Gothard Superintendent |