Billings voters have approved the elementary general fund levy for School District 2 | Pixabay
Billings voters have approved the elementary general fund levy for School District 2 | Pixabay
Billings voters approved the elementary general fund levy for School District 2, providing support to the district as it faces a structural budget deficit.
The total levy cost is $1.6 million; it will cost $9.79 per $100,000 of assessed property valuation to fully fund the levy.
Superintendent Greg Upham told the Yellowstone County News that this is a step toward a culture of consistent levy passage. Upham said clear communication between the school staff and the public will help paint a clearer picture of the district's financial situation and the school funding formula.
The school election originally scheduled for May was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the report. The pro-levy campaign was also subdued compared to previous years because of the coronavirus shutdown. As a result, proponents of the levy made their case heard through social media this year.
Once students switched to remote learning, parents were made to communicate more often with the schools. This allowed parents to see how hard teachers were working to continue to give students a quality education despite school buildings being closed: “I think our communities just got to see the total package that public education has to offer our community,” said Upham, according to the YCN.
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