Elkhorn board refines outreach on $4 million operational referendum, highlights classroom and staffing impacts

The Elkhorn Area School District Board of Education discussed plans this week to expand community outreach about a proposed operational referendum that would provide $4,000,000 a year for four years, and to clarify details people asked about during prior outreach.

Board members and district staff said the referendum question will appear on an upcoming ballot worded as required by bond counsel, and explained the district is using mailers, a fact sheet, community forums, social media and short video vignettes by board members to explain the proposal.

District leaders said the new question is $4 million a year nonrecurring for four years and contrasted it with the prior referendum request, which they described as a larger recurring proposal. They also outlined the likely consequences if the referendum fails, including possible increases in fees, more limited programs, and changes to school schedules and staffing mix that could begin as soon as the following school year.

Jason (district administrator) told the board the district will publish a one-page fact sheet and a schedule of forums and coffee chats and will add a FAQ document on the referendum web page. Staff said a printed mailer and a smaller “pass-along” card with a QR code will be produced for distribution at community events. Communications staff member Katie was credited with assembling the materials.

Board and staff members addressed specific concerns raised by residents: they said the earlier referendum had no end date and a larger dollar amount; that the current proposal is smaller and time-limited; and that the district will show estimated tax impacts using sample property values. Officials acknowledged the legal wording on the ballot is constrained by bond counsel and said they would try to add a short explanatory note on printed materials that the ballot language reflects bond counsel requirements.

Staff and board members described likely budget consequences if the referendum failed, including a combination of personnel and schedule changes. They noted a potential strategy that had been discussed previously — shortening the school year by several days — would not alone produce the full estimated savings; rather, projected savings combine freezing or reducing compensation, adjusting contracts and other measures. Staff said class-size increases, teacher retention and student supports such as counselor and administrative ratios are central concerns among teachers and families. The board heard staff say that losing experienced teachers or increasing class size could have the largest impacts on student learning.

Board member Adam Andre and others flagged that outreach should make clear the decision was made by the elected school board; members discussed changing language on the mailer from “the district” to “your school board” to emphasize that elected officials placed the question before voters.

Board members also agreed to produce short, two-minute videos featuring individual board members describing why they supported putting the referendum on the ballot and explaining its local effects. Communications staff will schedule recordings and post them online.

The board did not take a formal vote on the referendum itself at this meeting. District staff said they will continue to refine the printed and digital materials and post updates on the referendum web page.

Ending

Board members asked staff to proceed with the outreach materials and to return with any substantive wording changes for the mailer before it goes to print. No formal change to the referendum question or to the timeline was made at this session.