Superintendent's Office

January 15, 2025

In my first six months as superintendent, I have spent time listening to and engaging with our community to better understand our district. What I’ve seen has been inspiring: the brilliance of our students, and the tangible results of your dedication. To name a few, we’ve seen positive changes in test scores, student behavior, and participation in activities, but I know there is more potential for growth.

It can be difficult to think about how we make improvements in the face of budget reductions, but I turn to our guiding principle, which is to meet the needs of each of our students. There may be uncertainty in what lies ahead as we work to reduce our budget by our estimated $2 million. However, this is an opportunity for us to reflect on what is working well and what might not be working the way we intended. 

Through our fall budget listening sessions and survey, we’ve gathered valuable insights from our community, and I’d like to share with you some of the findings from this process. From the feedback gathered, we identified three key areas of great value:

Teachers and Staff Engagement: There was overwhelming appreciation for teachers' dedication, quality instruction, and their ability to build positive relationships with students and families.

Individualized Support and Small Class Sizes: We heard the value of small class sizes to allow for individual attention and differentiated instruction. An important factor includes providing support for struggling students, including reading and math interventions, as well as enrichment opportunities for advanced learners. 

Community and Relationship Building: The school district has a diverse community, and it is important to continue to foster a sense of community through events, family nights, and volunteer opportunities. 

I am reflecting on the information gathered to make some initial recommendations, which I plan to share in the coming weeks. We are entering the next phase of our budget reduction timeline, and the data collected will be used to establish budget parameters that align with our district’s mission and community priorities. The final budget will be reviewed, finalized and approved by the School Board on June 14, 2025.

Timeline

• Data Gathering (October-December 2024): In 2024, we collected input from our community and stakeholders to identify priorities and values that guide our financial decisions. This phase included reviewing revenues, expenses, and operational challenges.
• Preparation & Budget Parameters (January-March 2025): Using the data collected, we are establishing budget parameters that align with our district's mission and community priorities. 
• Final Budget Parameter Approval (April 2025): The proposed budget will be reviewed and finalized by the School Board.
• Final Budget Approval: The School Board will approve the budget at the regular business meeting on June 14, 2025.

At this time, I’m reviewing the information you shared, and I am sitting with many different options and directions. I continue to look to the voices of our community to collectively make decisions. Most importantly, I am turning to our mission for direction as we seek ways to continue to provide a high quality education for each student.

For more information on the budget, visit slpschools.org.

Sincerely,
Dr. Carlondrea Hines
Superintendent