Middleton District board debates three levy options and tradeoffs ahead of March deadline
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Summary
Board members reviewed three supplemental levy options — $2.4M, $1.9M and $1.5M — and heard administration warnings about cuts to staff, security, curriculum renewal and transportation if a smaller ask or no levy passes. Trustees asked for ballot language and outreach plans before the March meeting.
The Middleton District Board of Trustees spent the largest portion of its meeting weighing three supplemental-levy scenarios and their implications for classrooms, safety and transportation.
Superintendent Keith outlined three ballot options staff expects to present for the board’s March decision: $2.4 million (maintain current services and add planned technology and security), $1.9 million (fewer security expansions and reduced curriculum renewal and transportation options), and $1.5 million (deeper cuts that could include certified and classified staffing reductions). He told trustees that the larger $2.4 million option would, among other things, fund additional armed security officers at the high school and middle school and more robust curriculum renewals, while smaller totals would scale back or eliminate those items.
"We need to be looking at either the 1.5 or the 1.9, and as to which the public is more likely to get behind," Superintendent Keith said, asking the board for direction so attorneys could draft precise ballot language. He warned that moving from $2.4 million to $1.9 million would reduce or delay planned technology replacement, curriculum licenses and some transportation services; a $1.5 million levy would require still deeper cuts, possibly including reductions in staffing and near-elimination of maintenance dollars.
Trustees pressed staff for detail on likely impacts. One trustee said losing security personnel and reduced transportation options would be "a real shame," noting the strain on families when routes or bus options are removed. Another trustee argued outreach must explain that modernization (capital) funds are legally restricted and cannot be used to replace levy-funded operating services.
Staff also flagged practical deadlines. Superintendent Keith said attorneys must have draft ballot language for the March board meeting to meet the county deadline; staff noted the district can file and later withdraw ballot language if necessary but must move quickly. "The deadline for getting that in is March 13," he said, and the county indicated the district could withdraw by about March 20 if needed.
Board members directed the superintendent to return in March with language for at least two levy options, outreach recommendations (including social media and parent email), and clear descriptions of what each levy amount would fund and what services would be reduced if voters reject the levy.
Next steps: administration will draft ballot language and outreach materials for the board’s March meeting; the board will vote on which levy option(s) to place before voters.