Dear Monroe School District Community,

After the February election that included our School Construction Bond and Education Levy, we invited community feedback to better understand perspectives and priorities. We appreciate the time many of you took to share your input, and we’d like to provide an overview of what we heard and how it is shaping our next steps.

The Education Levy passed by a narrow margin, which will continue funding for essential programs, services, and staff that support our students every day for the next four years (2027-2030). Thank you to everyone who participated in this important decision!

The proposed School Construction Bond did not receive the approval needed to pass. As a result, we will not be able to move forward at this time with the proposed school construction, safety and security improvements, accessibility upgrades, modernization projects, and major maintenance work intended to ensure safe, adequate, and modern learning environments for our students.

What We Heard from Our Community

Following the February election, we received feedback from 462 community members through a survey. Several clear themes emerged:

Communication & Awareness

• Many respondents felt well-informed overall, with social media, mailed materials, and the voter’s pamphlet being the most common sources of information.
• There is strong interest in continuing current communication efforts, especially videos and email updates, while expanding opportunities for in-person and virtual engagement.
• Community members expressed a desire for clearer, more detailed financial information, including ongoing budget transparency.

Trust, Transparency & Decision Factors

• Trust in district leadership, perceived tax impact, and understanding of what funds would support were key factors (positively and negatively) influencing both bond and levy decisions.
• Many respondents indicated that support for future measures depends on increased transparency, clearer prioritization of projects, and stronger demonstration of fiscal responsibility.
• Some community members expressed concerns about past spending decisions and want clearer accountability before supporting new investments.

Facility Priorities

• There is broad agreement that district facilities need attention, particularly related to safety, security, HVAC systems, and modernization of older buildings.
• Sky Valley Education Center emerged as a major focus, with strong but mixed perspectives on how to address its needs. Many expressed concerns about the high number of out-of-district students who attend and do not contribute to local taxes for our district’s facility needs.
• Community members emphasized the importance of addressing essential repairs and ensuring equitable investment across schools.

Cost & Scope of Future Measures

• Many respondents expressed concern about the overall cost of the bond and its impact on taxpayers, particularly given current economic conditions.
• There is interest in exploring more focused or phased approaches that prioritize critical facility needs before larger-scale projects.
• Suggestions included evaluating existing assets, considering lower-cost solutions, and clearly distinguishing between essential improvements and longer-term enhancements. 

What We’re Doing Next

In response to this community feedback, we are taking several steps to improve transparency, strengthen trust, and more clearly prioritize our work moving forward:

Increasing Communication and Transparency
We will increase communication about how district funds are used, including regular updates on Education Levy spending and budget decisions. We are also working to make financial information more accessible and easier to understand for our community. Existing resources, such as our Community Guide to the Budget and our Budget Advisory Committee, will continue to play an important role in this effort. 

Prioritizing Local Students in Facility Planning
While state funding follows students from their home district, we recognize the community’s concern that local tax dollars should prioritize facilities for students living within the Monroe School District. We will be examining out-of-district student enrollment district-wide and we will be adjusting enrollment practices at Sky Valley Education Center to prioritize in-district students and limit enrollment of new out-of-district students.

Focusing on Critical Facility Needs
The School Board will continue discussions to identify and prioritize the district’s most critical facility needs, with a focus on safety, security, and essential maintenance. We will also explore more cost-effective and phased approaches to address these needs in a way that reflects community feedback about affordability and scope. Community members are encouraged to review board meeting materials and watch recordings or attend upcoming meetings to stay informed.

Using Feedback to Guide Future Planning
We will continue using community input to guide future decisions, including how projects are prioritized, how funding proposals are structured, and how we communicate about both. Our goal is to ensure that future plans reflect clear priorities, strong fiscal responsibility, and the values of our community.

We are grateful for the continued engagement of our community and for the thoughtful feedback that helps shape our work. While not all perspectives are the same, your input plays a critical role in helping us move forward in a way that best supports our students, staff, and schools. We remain committed to listening, improving, and working together to meet the needs of Monroe School District’s students.

Shawn Woodward
Superintendent