A Message from the Superintendent about the Referendum
Things worked out differently today than was hoped, but everything is a teachable moment. The administration and the board will need to reconvene with the community, listen to your input and then reexamine both our referendum plan and its implementation to determine where we can be better and stronger for the next vote.
I would like to say thank you to the families, teachers, staff, community members, retirees, business and civic leaders who voted to support this effort.
I would also like to thank Neighbors for School Excellence, who worked tirelessly on behalf of our students. Thank you, as well, to the students who worked so hard to support this effort.
The local media also deserves recognition for its fair coverage and timely work to help us inform residents about the important issues surrounding this vote.
At the end of the day, this is a conversation about student opportunity and achievement. We didn’t get the outcome we were hoping for, but the needs of our students have not changed. The investment we voted on November 3rd is imperative for our students and for community growth.
For our supporters, I say, don’t lose faith. Your hard work is a testament to how much you value education and the students in this community. We’ll refine our plan and come back stronger because the 10,000 students in District 742 deserve it!
Willie