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Superintendent to run in‑house community survey after failed referendum; federal lobbying highlighted special‑education funding and recruitment
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Thomas told the board the district will launch an April 15–29 community survey after a recent failed referendum and described a Washington, D.C., advocacy trip that focused on special education funding, teacher recruitment and federal guidance on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Superintendent Dr. Thomas said the district will launch an in‑house community survey from April 15 through April 29 to gather input after a recent referendum failed, and he summarized federal advocacy the district carried out in Washington, D.C., on special education funding and workforce development.
Dr. Thomas told the board that Morris Leatherman, who conducted the district's pre‑referendum polling, told district leaders he could "save you $30,000 and I'll tell you the two reasons why it didn't pass" — economic insecurity and concerns about property taxes — and that the district would instead run its own, lower‑cost survey. Dr. Thomas said a postcard mailer to reach a broader, random sample would cost an estimated $5,400.
The superintendent asked the community to participate and to share the in‑house survey. He said the district will summarize results for the school board and district leadership.
Dr. Thomas also described elements of the district's recent advocacy trip to Washington, where he and other Minnesota school leaders met federal delegates and Department of Education staff. The delegation urged fuller federal funding for special education, discussed "grow your own" teacher pipelines to address staffing shortages, and pressed to maintain Title I funding and public funding for public schools. Dr. Thomas said the delegation met with both Republican and Democratic members of Congress and with Department of Education officials.
On federal guidance, Dr. Thomas discussed two "Dear Colleague" letters from the U.S. Department of Education and a state attorney general opinion that the superintendent said has raised questions in Minnesota. He said the letters prompted requests for clarity; he gave an example of a district inclusive early‑childhood playground and asked whether such projects fall within acceptable practice. He told the board: "We will continue to abide by what is right for kids. We are a public educational system that serves all students no matter who they are and how they show up in our classrooms every single day, and that's nonnegotiable as your superintendent."
Other administrative updates included branding and strategic‑plan signage being installed in buildings, ongoing development near the district (Keyland grading and a planned park), and the superintendent's outreach with real‑estate professionals about local housing and enrollment trends.
Dr. Thomas said he will provide the board further details and results from the district survey when available.
