Issues

The Hudson School District is facing a significant funding deficit projected to exceed $2 million by the 2025/2026 school year, with the gap continuing to grow. Two main factors contributing to this issue are: 1) State funding levels not accounting for inflation, a change made by state legislators in 2010, and 2) Declining enrollment, where incoming class sizes are smaller than graduating classes, despite the district enrolling over 90% of eligible children. The District has tried to address this through operational budget referendums in April 2023 and November 2024, both of which failed, signaling community concerns. To move forward, there needs to be more open community discussion to identify common priorities and find a solution to the funding shortfall.

While buildings provide tangible structures that our entire community sees and connects with, it is the staff who are the backbone of the District. Teachers engage with our children every day, using their training to teach our children important skills and help set a foundation for students to become life-long learners. With children in the district, I have seen firsthand the impact of not having sufficient staff. Last year my son’s science teacher, new to the district, resigned within the first month of the school year resulting in a long-term sub taking over the class. Staffing issues are not unique to Hudson, it is happening within the larger ecosystem of teacher burnout, fewer people going into the teaching profession, and overall worker shortages. Finding and retaining staff is an issue every industry (public and private) is facing. We need strong qualified teachers and staff.

The mental health and well-being of our students and staff remains an important issue for HSD and our community. The data continue to show more people are not doing okay – from feeling consistent levels of sadness and hopelessness to increases in depression and anxiety. Our local data align with state and national data which find: 

• 4 in 10 students reported they felt persistently sad or hopeless.[1]
• Nearly one-third reported they experienced poor mental health in the past 12 months.[1]
• 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year.[2]

The District’s commitment to address mental health is evident in their co-location of mental health services within school buildings, offering Mental Health First Aid training and launching the Speak Up Speak Out app - all strong achievements. While these efforts are important and critical, they primarily address the issue at the individual and family level. I believe that we must continue the conversation about larger system-level changes within the District to ensure we are supporting positive mental health and well-being for students and staff.

[1] Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report: 2011- 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2023.

[2] Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2016.

I believe we are stronger when we work together to find solutions.  On January 7, the District hosted a Community Conversation about the operational budget and options for addressing the shortfall. I walked away with these things in mind:  

1. Our community supports our schools and knows the important work the teachers and staff do every day to help our children learn.
2. Our community is greatly concerned about schools closing and impacts on staff.
3. Our community is also greatly concerned about possible tax increases.

The High School referendum for 2016 show our community wants open dialogue with many stakeholders and to see the ask for additional funding to be reflective of their goals and concerns.

Throughout the campaign, I’ll be hosting "Coffee and Conversation" days. Come meet me, share your thoughts, voice your concerns, and tell me your vision for our schools. Together, we can make a difference!