Dear Oxford Community,
As superintendent, I believe it is important to keep our community informed about the difficult financial decisions being considered within Oxford Community Schools. These are not easy decisions, and I understand that conversations about school closures, staffing and reductions to programs can be concerning.
While these decisions are part of our responsibility to manage the district’s finances, their effects reach the broader Oxford community. I want to make sure our community understands our financial position, why these decisions are necessary, and what they could mean for the future.
At its meeting on September 22, the Oxford Board of Education approved a resolution directing the district to develop a reduced 2027-28 general fund operating budget considering the potential loss of approximately $7 million in annual operating revenue.
This planning is necessary because Oxford’s non-homestead operating millage, approved by voters in 2016, expires at the end of 2026. The millage proposal was not approved in August and will appear again on the November 3 ballot. If it is not renewed, the district will need to reduce approximately $7 million from next year’s operating budget.
To prepare for that possibility, district administrators presented the Board with three budget scenarios designed to minimize disruption to student learning while continuing to meet required obligations. The Board selected one of those scenarios as the basis for contingency planning. The Board’s resolution does not put these reductions into effect. It allows the district to responsibly prepare for the financial circumstances we would face if the millage is not renewed.
The potential reductions would be felt across the district. They include closing Leonard Elementary, changes to transportation and athletics, and approximately $4.4 million in reductions to staffing, student programs and operational services.
For students and families, that would mean changes well beyond one school building. Closing Leonard would require redrawing elementary attendance boundaries and would increase class sizes at other schools. Transportation changes would include enforcing a 1.5-mile walking zone for general education students and restructuring bus routes. Athletics changes would include pay-to-participate and student admission fees.
The largest area of reduction would be staffing and student programs. This would mean fewer teachers and student support personnel, including paraprofessionals, along with reductions in elective course options, programs and other student experiences. Operational reductions would also affect resources and services that support our schools and classrooms.
Fiscal responsibility and sustainable systems are part of Goal 4 of our strategic plan, and we will continue that work regardless of the election outcome. We will continue evaluating our operations, looking for opportunities to improve efficiency and using district resources responsibly while supporting student learning.
I know these conversations are difficult, but I believe our community deserves to understand our financial position and the decisions ahead. We will continue to share information on our website at oxfordschools.org/millage as this process moves forward.