The meeting featured pointed criticism from a community member regarding repeated security issues, despite the district’s substantial funding. The individual underscored the recurring nature of these concerns and questioned why additional measures, such as improved fencing, had not been implemented. They highlighted discrepancies between the district’s actions and the need to safeguard the schools, referencing a recent report from the Parkland shooting and the similarity in security flaws.

Another resident brought up financial concerns, specifically the cost of preschool expansion and its impact on the district’s budget and tax levy. They argued that the expansion strains the budget, potentially to the detriment of students with disabilities due to the allocation of funds. The speaker provided figures to illustrate the disparity between state aid and the actual cost per student.

In response to the public comments, a clarification was issued regarding the tax levy, which was stated as being lower than the 9% increase mentioned by a community member. Further, it was noted that the preschool would require $1.5 million from the budget, with the remainder of the funds coming from state aid intended for preschool expansion.