Why is the school district trying to pass an operating levy?

• The school district has been trying to pass an operating levy for the past three years due to the lack of funding from the state.
• The gap in funding is explained in the first chart on the school funding page.  Click the School Funding tab for this information.
• The money used for an operating levy supports the expenses for a school district.​

Who can I get more information from about the operating levy?

• Please call the district office or use the contact link above to submit your questions.
• There will be an informational meeting in each of the communities in October.

Why does the district only have one polling place?

• The cost of an off year election needs to be paid by the school district.  We are trying to save money on the costs of the election.  With the ease of obtaining an absentee ballot, nobody is being excluded from voting.  Please see the voting information for information on absentee ballot voting.

What has been cut to reduce spending?

• Frozen salaries and reduced pay increases.
• Elimination of an administrative position.
  • We combined the role of the Activities Director with a Dean of Students and reduced the number of building principals from 3 to 2.
• Reduced teaching and support staff positions.
  • 8 fewer teachers now than we did 5 years ago
  • 4 fewer educational assistants than we did 5 years ago.
  • 1 less bus driver than we did 5 years ago.
  • 3 less custodians and building and grounds staff.
    • Triton has had 15 teachers retire in the last 5 years.  We have replaced these teachers with less experienced and lower salaries to save money.
• Reduced an after school bus route.
• Reduced extra-curricular positions for activities (fewer coaches and advisors for a variety of activities).
• Decreased budgets for activities, classrooms and all departments.

What is the current fund balance?

• Here is the end of the year fund balance for the past 5 years.  You can see that it is going down.  The largest portion of our budget goes to staff salaries.  The fund balance would have been further decreased if we had not made the
• cuts that we have made.
• 2017-18: $847,299
  2016-17: $1,026,823
  2015-16: $997,560
  2014-15: $1,284,965
  2013-14: $2,152,953

Why don't you just keep cutting?

• These reductions in staff impact the students when they have more students in classes and it makes it more difficult for teachers to teach. 
• The reduction in staff also results in longer commutes on the busses, and more job responsibilities for the remaining staff.

What will be added back if the levy passes?

• This is for operating expenses and we will not add back staff or programs unless there is an identified need where we can justify the expense.​

Why did the district spend the money on the turf field?

• About 85% of the cost of the turf field was donated.  The remaining balance that was paid for by the district has turned out to be a good investment.  The turf field is used by a variety of activities, and does not require mowing, watering, chemical treatments or painting.  The savings from those easily makes up the difference in the up front cost and it has turned into a very good investment as the turf lifespan is exceeding it's projection and showing little signs of wear.
• The district has been able to generate revenue from renting the field to outside groups that want to use the field.

Why don't we just consolidate with some other school?

• If we did consolidate with an area school your taxes would increase much more.  You would need to pay the taxes that are currently being charged to that district, and our taxes are some of the lowest in the area even after this levy passes.  We have very little building debt left to pay off, unlike a number of area schools.