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Stevensville Schools superintendent urges voters to renew technology levy ahead of May 5 vote
Summary
Superintendent John Conan told the Stevensville Town Council the district’s technology needs have grown far beyond the original levy and asked residents to support a renewal on May 5, stressing roughly $500,000 of district technology spending and potential personnel impacts if funding lapses.
John Conan, superintendent of Stevensville Schools, told the Town Council that the district’s technology levy is up for renewal and urged voters to support it in the May 5 election. Conan said the current state law requires a 10-year renewal cycle for the tech levy and described the broad set of systems the levy helps cover, from classroom Chromebooks and interactive boards to curriculum subscriptions, security cameras and building HVAC monitoring.
Conan said the district previously counted on a $75,000 levy but that ongoing technology costs now amount to roughly a half‑million dollars across the district and are increasingly paid from the general fund. “We’re not a one‑to‑one district,” Conan said, explaining that devices are used as supplemental tools and that many technology costs are recurring subscription and infrastructure expenses. He added that the district maintains a hardware replacement cycle (typically five to six years) and pays for a technology director from general‑fund dollars rather than the levy.
Conan told council members that because about 86% of the district budget goes to salaries and benefits, failure to renew the levy would likely force cuts that affect personnel and classroom resources. He offered examples and a voter information handout showing estimated homeowner impacts and said he is meeting with multiple community groups in the run‑up to the election. “I’m asking people to come out and vote May 5,” Conan said.
The superintendent answered council questions about how levy funds are used and noted the district’s concern about rising subscription and labor costs. Stephanie Eh, identified in the meeting as the district’s vice chair, accompanied Conan and was present for questions. Conan said he will continue outreach to inform voters about the measure and its potential classroom and staffing impacts.
The council did not take an action on the levy; the presentation was informational and intended to raise public awareness ahead of the scheduled May 5 vote.
