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Board narrows millage ballot language: focus on pay, safety and essential operations
Summary
Board members debated draft millage ballot language and converged on wording that emphasizes increased compensation for teachers and staff, enhanced school security operations, and funding essential programs; staff will clean up the text and return a final version for a vote later in May.
Board members debated draft ballot language for a proposed ad valorem operating millage at the May 11 agenda‑review workshop and coalesced around concise, voter‑facing wording to describe the measure’s primary uses.
The discussion centered on plain language and priorities: some members argued for leading with “teacher pay” to make the ask clear, while others preferred broader phrasing that would include non‑teaching staff. The attorney explained legal constraints such as word counts (15 words for title, 75 words for the body) that limited how much detail could be included.
After back‑and‑forth, the board agreed on a draft line for staff to refine: “To increase compensation for teachers and staff, enhance school security operations, and fund essential operations that preserve important school programs, including arts, education and athletics...” The superintendent and attorney noted staff would remove internal annotations and return a clean version for board action at the end of May. Board members emphasized the need to coordinate with bargaining units over how any revenues would be allocated and to avoid confusing voters by duplicating items already funded by the district’s half‑cent renewal.
No binding vote on placing the millage on the ballot occurred at the May 11 meeting; the board asked staff to prepare a final draft and supporting materials for the May 28 meeting so members and stakeholders can review proposed allocation mechanics and impacts.
