Staff report
Last Tuesday, April 15, voters approved the Slate Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) budget by a vote of 824-631 — a low voter turnout for the district. It was SVUSD’s second vote to pass the budget. Last year, in which nearly a third of all school districts within the state failed to pass district budgets the first round, it took Slate Valley five rounds of voting to get a spending plan through. This year, the board cut another half a million dollars after Town Meeting Day to make sure that didn’t happen again.
“On behalf of the Slate Valley Unified Union School District, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our communities for their support in passing (824 yes, 631 no) the school budget on the second vote,” wrote Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell on the district website April 15. “Your engagement, advocacy, and belief in the importance of public education make a profound difference in the lives of our students, staff, and families. We recognize that arriving at a successful outcome required thoughtful dialogue and collaboration, and we deeply appreciate the time and effort so many of you contributed throughout this process. Your vote allows us to move forward with the resources necessary to provide a high-quality, student-centered education while remaining committed to continuous improvement and fiscal responsibility. As we continue to navigate a time of significant uncertainty in public education—both at the state and federal levels—your partnership remains more important than ever. We are committed to maintaining transparency, fostering open communication, and working together to ensure Slate Valley remains a place where all students can thrive. Thank you for investing in the future of our schools and for standing with us as we face these challenges together.”
