Resident raises concerns about possible tax increase, cuts to arts and athletics and canceled senior event

A resident identified in the transcript as Miss Fiddy used the public‑comment portion of the June 16 Committee of the Whole to raise multiple concerns, including a possible tax increase, potential cuts to music, art and athletics, and the cancellation of a planned senior event.

Fiddy asked whether the district would be raising taxes and mentioned an initial number she had heard; district leaders replied that the final tax figure would be available on June 30 and that the initial number is not final. She said staff members had told her that budget pressures typically lead to examining music, art and sports budgets and said she was ‘‘fighting vigorously’’ to prevent cuts. Board members responded that some arts and athletics reductions had occurred in prior years and clarified historical context for past program changes.

Fiddy also said a planned senior gathering called a “senior sunset” had been canceled; a board director said an email was received that morning indicating cancellation and administrators said the cancellation did not originate from administration, though the reason was not given in the meeting. She asked operational questions about after‑school programming (KnowledgePoints) and about whether due‑process cases still reach the board; a district official said due‑process cases now often settle before reaching the board but that a few had been heard this year.

Board President Miss Boykins and other leaders told Fiddy that the committee meeting was not the appropriate venue to extend the conversation because the items were not on the committee agenda; they invited her to speak during the next business (voting) meeting or to participate via Zoom so the board could hear the items at a meeting with formal agenda time. The transcript records the exchange but does not show further administrative action on the issues raised during the committee meeting.