DEAR COMMUNITY MEMBERS,

On April 1, 2025, our District will ask for your support in an operating referendum to sustain essential day-to-day school operations. Unlike many Districts across the state, we have not requested additional operational funding since 2011, thanks to careful budgeting and a strong commitment to being fiscally responsible. However, due to rising costs and the limitations in state funding, we now need community support to continue delivering the quality education our students deserve. We have implemented significant budget cuts, improved efficiencies, and found ways to increase revenue to help offset costs.

Despite these efforts, the gap between operational costs and available state funding has grown, making additional support essential. This referendum will help ensure that we are able to maintain the resources, programs, and staff that are critical to our students’ success.

Please know that our commitment to our mission of KIDS Come First remains unwavering. As always, we are committed to transparency and have created this webpage to provide information on the upcoming referendum.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our schools and for helping us invest in the future of our children and community.

Sincerely,
Deanna Wiatt
Melrose-Mindoro School District Superintendent

The Melrose-Mindoro School District is experiencing challenges with our operating budget. Like many school districts across the state and country, the District needs the support of local citizens to maintain resources, programs, and staff that are critical to our students’ success. On April 1, 2025, the Melrose-Mindoro School District will ask voters to support a $1.2 million operating referendum to support the District’s recurring operational expenses.
Operational funding is needed to balance the budget and allow the District to:
✔ Retain staff
✔ Maintain programs and services for students
✔ Ensure class sizes are conducive to learning
✔ Maintain District facilities and equipment

The District is projecting an annual operating deficit of more than $1.2 million in the years ahead. The District will need to secure a voter-approved operating referendum in order to balance the budget or be forced to make additional cuts to programs and daily expenses.
The largest portion of the school district’s funding comes from the State’s basic general education formula. This formula has not kept up with inflation, resulting in many school districts across the state facing significant budget challenges. In addition, there have been numerous new mandates for school districts, but not adequate funding to support their implementation.
For the past four years, the District received additional funding called Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER). These federal funds were allotted through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This provided the needed funding to close the budget gap, allowing the District to maintain quality programs and services to ensure student success. ESSER funding has now ended.