President Newman told the board the district must plan for a structural budget adjustment: “Our need to adjust budgets for the future by 10 to $12,000,000 annually is the focus of the Board of Education.” The board directed district administration to gather a holistic range of options for consideration and emphasized that no decisions have been made yet.

Superintendent Dr. Grover outlined the engagement roadmap staff will follow: internal staff meetings on Dec. 9–10, a community coalition meeting with roughly 100 sign-ups, and a phased public survey after the coalition reviews options. She said the process will start with staff feedback, move to the community coalition, and then be opened more broadly once options are narrowed.

Directors framed the work as both fiscal triage and an opportunity to reposition the district. Several board members said state-level changes have forced districts to absorb costs and urged a districtwide discussion about enrollment, programming and facilities optimization. Board members and staff described enrollment decline (about 600 students this year and roughly 2,000 since 2019) as a key driver of financial stress.

The board requested that administrators return with multiple options for balancing the budget — including program, staffing and facilities scenarios — and asked that each option outline trade-offs and potential impacts on students and staff. The board encouraged transparency and active stakeholder participation as the district develops a seven-year strategic plan that will frame long-term decisions.

The board did not take any final votes on specific reductions during the meeting; it set a schedule for staff and community engagement and asked administration to report back with options.