Keep Moving District 45 Forward

In the upcoming March 17th election, we will be able to vote on a referendum that will keep our District 45 schools moving forward. We need to vote yes!

With deficits projected in future years, unless the district receives additional funding, difficult decisions will need to be made to balance the budget as early as March of 2026. This includes teacher layoffs, larger class sizes, reduced programming, decreased staff and student support, delayed facility maintenance, and, if finances continue to get worse, building closures and redistricting.

That’s why District 45 transparently communicated their financial situation to the public and facilitated an open, honest discussion over how the community would like to proceed. The result is the community-driven plan for the future of our schools that is on our ballots now as a referendum.

This 27.6 cent tax rate increase would provide $4.3 million more annually for our schools and result in a $299 per year tax increase for the average district homeowner. When we vote yes, the referendum will allow the district to:

Avoid Max Class Sizes, Laying Off Teachers, or Closing Schools

District 45 is funded at only 85% of adequacy, operating with nearly $8 million less per year than recommended. This is largely due to a lack of state and federal funding, with our district receiving only 20% of funding from these sources.

Work to Expand Academic Programming

If we want to continue to see academic gains from District 45 students, we need to vote to pass the referendum. District 45 is empowering all learners to cultivate hope, build confidence, and realize their full potential.

Enhance Safety & Security, Increase Student Resources & Supports

Nothing is more important than keeping our children safe at school and providing them the resources and supports they need. Voting yes on the referendum will ensure this happens.