On Tuesday, May 20, Salem CSD residents voted to approve the district’s proposed $17.23 million budget for the 2025-26 school year that carries an 8% tax levy increase and a decrease in spending of 3.69% compared to the current year.
The proposed $17.23 million budget will allow the district to reduce the budget gap from $2,000,000 to $153,515, maintain the fund balance (savings), and slow the depletion of reserves. In the face of the gap in the budget, the proposal mitigated negative impact on student programming by reexamining enrollment and class sizes, scheduling and offerings, staff capacity, and student needs.
The initial gap between revenues and expenses in the 2025-26 budget proposal was partially a result of a series of past school budgets with little to no increase in the tax levy. The rising costs of sustaining the school district combined with limited revenue from the tax levy were main factors considered in the proposed spending plan
The 2025-26 budget includes the following cuts to set the district up for financial success in the future:
Reorganizing teaching assignments in English, Math, and Science departments to accommodate increased enrollment in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and alternative credit options for students.
Increasing Academic Intervention Services (AIS) provided by classroom teachers, to ensure higher needs students have specialized instruction with reading teachers. Also, Special Education teachers who meet reading certification requirements will also support reading instruction.
Elimination of social worker position through attrition.
Speech therapy will continue, with shared services between the district’s two remaining speech therapists. County programs will be available to assist, as needed.
Elimination of the elementary principal position.
Elimination of a clerical position.
“We are grateful to the Salem community for their continued support of our school district,” said Superintendent Julie Collier. “The approval of the budget will allow us to begin to close the gap in our budget immediately. Moving forward, the district will work to implement long range financial and capital project plans to help stabilize the tax cap. By implementing a long-term financial strategy, we can ensure the district’s financial health for years to come.”
The community voted to approve the Capital Project. This will allow the district to finance much-needed replacements of the Salem Washington Academy roofs.
The community also voted to approve the transportation proposal on the ballot. This will allow the district to lease one 65-passenger bus for a five year lease period at a cost that would not exceed $42,500 annually.
There was one seat on the board of education on the ballot. The community voted for Marissa Perkins to fill the seat. The term for the seat runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028. The seat is currently held by Peter Thomas.