Laurel school reel says operations needs total nearly $500,000 a year and urges Feb. 9 vote

The presenter in a district-produced referendum reel said Laurel’s recurring operational costs for student technology and school safety now total nearly $500,000 a year and urged voters to back a current-expense referendum on Feb. 9.

The presenter said the district previously relied on ESSER COVID relief funds to support technology and on the Stronger Connections grant for constables and safety upgrades, and that both sources are no longer available. “Together, technology and safety needs total nearly $500,000 every year,” the presenter said.

The reel outlined how the costs break down in functional terms: devices need replacement, software licenses must be renewed and maintained, and the state expects a 1-to-1 student-device environment. “Technology must be replaced, repaired, and renewed,” the presenter said, adding that devices age out and software licenses renew.

On safety, the presenter stressed that school constables are “not optional positions” and described them as essential to a stable learning environment for nearly 2,700 students across five buildings. The presenter warned that cuts to these areas would reduce access to instructional tools and testing and would compromise the learning environment.

The presenter framed technology and safety as one of three pillars of the referendum request and said the reel series will next explain why the district says now is the time to act after four years without a current-expense referendum. The reel closed with a reminder to vote on Feb. 9, using the campaign phrase “Big Red says, vote,” and noting it is the first time in 40 years the referendum of this type is being held, as stated in the reel.

No formal vote or motion was taken in the reel itself; it is informational and urges voters to the ballot. The reel did not specify the proposed tax rate or ballot language, or provide a detailed budget breakdown beyond the near-$500,000 annual figure.