Raymond #14 School District candidates focus on budget, enrollment and transparency at forum

Two candidates for the Raymond #14 School District school board met at a public forum to field community questions about open enrollment, curriculum and the district’s recent financial shortfalls.

Jennifer, a candidate for the Raymond #14 School District school board, said she supports open enrollment “in moderation” but is focused on bringing students who have left the district back into Raymond. “If we can get even half of those 37 students to come back for next year I think that would be a huge start to helping our budget,” she said.

Keith Castenson, also a candidate and a five-year member of the village board, said he favors some open enrollment but warned against crowding classrooms. “I do not agree with filling classrooms with 18 kids,” Castenson said, and urged the district to address local reasons families choose other schools.

The candidates discussed curriculum, including social-emotional learning. Heather, the forum facilitator, noted that the district posts the Character Strong lessons on the Raymond website for public review. Both candidates said they had reviewed some SEL materials but not every element of the district’s adopted curriculum.

Budget concerns were a focal point. A questioner at the forum cited “unnecessary, unprecedented expenditures of nearly $1 million” in 2023–24 and two loans taken in 2024 of $300,000 and $600,000 to cover overspending. Jennifer called 2023–24 “a tough year for everybody” and said she would focus on learning the financial details and on moving forward with greater transparency. Castenson said the district’s top need is to understand how it reached its present budget predicament and restore fiscal stability.

A forum speaker explained that some bookkeeping and bill-posting timing created the appearance of a negative balance in the treasurer’s reports and that bank reconciliations now underway would show the true position; the speaker said the district’s bank account had not been overdrawn. Candidates and organizers said they are reestablishing business-office practices ahead of an audit.

Both candidates said they would not let political influences guide their decisions and emphasized outreach. Castenson said ending division and focusing “for the kids” should guide the board; Jennifer said she is “an open book” and encouraged residents to contact her directly.

Organizers closed by reminding voters that early voting begins March 18 and asking for community support. The forum provided residents a chance to hear how the two candidates would approach enrollment, curriculum and restoring financial oversight if elected.