Frequently Asked Questions

ISD 378 is facing a growing gap between available revenue and the cost of maintaining the programs, services, and opportunities our students and families value.

• State Funding Lag: Inflation has reduced state funding by $1,476 per pupil since 2015, equal to about $944,935 annually for Dawson-Boyd.

• Unfunded Mandates: New requirements such as READ Act, Earned Safe and Sick Time, and Paid Family/Medical Leave add costs.

Without additional revenue or further reductions, district reserves are projected to fall below the state’s -2.5% Statutory Operating Debt threshold, requiring additional state oversight. Our goal is to maintain financial stability while keeping local control focused on our students.

Agricultural land is not taxed for this operating referendum. For an agricultural homestead, only the house, garage, and surrounding one acre are included in the referendum calculation. 

To prevent deep, permanent cuts to student programs before our reserves run dry.

• The Reality: The $460 per-pupil levy was approved when costs were much lower. Unprecedented economic inflation (utilities, fuel, insurance) combined with unfunded state mandates (like the READ Act and Paid Family Leave) created an $806,000 annual funding gap much faster than anyone anticipated.

• Proactive Financial Planning: Waiting until 2031 woula force the district into deficit spending, dropping our reserve balance into negative numbers (-1.96% by FY 2030). That would put the district in Statutory Operating Debt (SOD), resulting in state oversight and taking decisions out of local hands.

• The Right Balance: Revoking the $460 rate early and replacing it with $1,300 per pupil provides immediate financial stability, allowing us to plan responsibly for the next decade without making reactive, emergency cuts.

By trimming our budget internally first.

• $772,059 in Proactive Cuts: Over the last two fiscal years, district leadership made significant reductions-cutting spending by 3.4% ($302,960) in FY 2025 and an additional 5.5% ($469,099) in FY 2026.

• Exhausting Internal Options: We reduced operational overhead and adjusted staffing before coming to voters. However, because 80% of our general budget pays for staff, we cannot cut further without directly damaging classroom learning and losing valued teachers to neighboring districts. 

It protects our commitment to 'Small School. Big Opportunities.'

Dawson-Boyd offers educational opportunities that few rural schools our size can match. This local funding directly supports:

• Our Music "Trifecta": Preserving full band, choir, AND orchestra programs-a rare offering for a small school district that brings immense pride to our community.

• Attracting & Retaining Great Teachers: Ensuring competitive pay and stability so our best educators stay in Dawson-Boyd classrooms.

• Small Class Sizes: Maintaining personalized, small-group attention for elementary and secondary students.

• Career & Academic Programs: Keeping strong vocational, agricultural, and college-prep electives intact.