Board Update - June 26, 2026 - Megan Heil

Our June 24th Board meeting began with another "Shine the Light" work session, where the Board continued discussing district goals and priorities for the coming school year. These work sessions allow us to step back from the day-to-day business of the district to focus on our long-term vision and ensure every decision supports student success.

Summer tends to be a little quieter for the Board of Education, as many of the district committees that Board members serve on pause while students and staff enjoy a well-deserved summer break. While our meeting schedule lightens, work across the district certainly does not. Planning, budgeting, curriculum development, maintenance projects, and preparations for the upcoming school year continue throughout the summer months. It's never too early to start preparing for a successful school year.

Superintendent Banghart shared several encouraging district updates. Preliminary CMAS results indicate Garfield Re-2 is continuing to close learning gaps in several key academic areas. District staff are now carefully analyzing the preliminary data and look forward to sharing the official state-released results with our families and community once they become available.

We also received an encouraging financial update. The district began the 2025-2026 fiscal year anticipating approximately $2.1 million in deficit spending. Through careful financial management and responsible stewardship of district resources, that projected deficit was reduced to approximately $1.1 million by year-end. Looking ahead, the district anticipates approximately $500,000 in deficit spending for the upcoming school year—a significant improvement that reflects the administration's ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility while continuing to invest in students and staff.

Another discussion item was the introduction of the Wayfinder K-5 Graduate Profile Skills Program. The presentation outlined how the curriculum is designed to intentionally develop essential life skills alongside academic learning. Through lessons focused on communication, collaboration, self-awareness, responsibility, and goal-setting, students are equipped with tools to become confident learners, effective teammates, and responsible citizens. As our district continues to prepare students for life beyond graduation, these durable skills complement the strong academic instruction already taking place in our classrooms.

The Board also reviewed and adopted the district's final budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. This annual process is one of the Board's most important responsibilities, ensuring taxpayer dollars are managed responsibly while maintaining a strong focus on student learning. I'm happy to report that these actions position the district to begin the new fiscal year on a solid financial footing while continuing to support the educational priorities established by the Board.

Although summer is a welcome time for rest and family, our schools just aren't the same without our students filling the hallways. We hope every Garfield Re-2 family enjoys a safe, relaxing, and memorable summer. We look forward to welcoming everyone back before we know it for another outstanding school year.