Superintendent outlines $20 million no‑tax‑increase bond plan and new district literacy focus

Superintendent Carpenter told the board that two questions on the April ballot would help stabilize the district's general fund and address deferred maintenance. He described the package as a $20,000,000, no‑tax‑increase bond that would pay off about $13.5 million in existing debt and recover roughly $1,400,000 into the budget annually, funding deferred maintenance projects such as lighting at Ruskin and renovations at Warford. "We're going to pay off 13 and a half million in debt, recovering about $1,400,000 into our budget annually," Carpenter said.

Carpenter urged community members to be informed and participate in the April vote, and noted staff and community outreach events to explain the questions. He also announced a concentrated literacy effort: on April 20 the district will hold a professional-development day and panels centered on improving literacy outcomes, with Dr. Alfred Tatum (a literacy scholar identified by Carpenter) as keynote and panel contributor. Carpenter said the focus will be a sustained, targeted literacy strategy rather than short-term activities. "My focus for the remainder of the time that you will have me here is a strict, strict literacy focus," Carpenter said.

The board did not adopt or authorize bond language in this meeting; Carpenter framed the discussion as informational and as part of community outreach leading up to the April ballot. The board said it will learn the results at its next meeting in April.