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Parent warns of looming deficit, criticizes proposed cuts and calls for investment in students
Summary
A parent urged the board to avoid further cuts, saying the district faces a projected undesignated fund balance of negative $3.5 million within 15 months and urging investment in student supports rather than tax cuts.
Oliver Zarno, a parent of two elementary students in the district, addressed the board during public comment and urged trustees to prioritize school funding and services over additional tax reductions.
Zarno said a state-imposed revenue limit system leaves districts financially vulnerable and told the board he expects the district's undesignated fund balance to be negative $3,500,000 within roughly 15 months. He criticized proposals discussed at a prior meeting to limit wage increases and to implement up to $5,000,000 in additional cuts, calling those measures insufficient to address learning and staffing shortfalls.
Zarno described conversations with PTOs, educators and families across the district and cited concerns including cancelled advanced classes, growing inequity in facilities, schools with counselors present less than one day per week and educators purchasing classroom supplies from personal funds. He said those conditions, in his view, warranted prioritizing investments that support students and teachers over further unsustainable tax cuts.
Board members did not act on the public comment; the item was a public-record statement by a community member.
