On Nov. 8, voters approved Falcon School District 49 ballot measure 3B, which keeps the current mill levy rate at 10.159 mills; and allows the district to increase teacher salaries, renovate and refresh all the existing schools, build additions to or remodel the three largest high schools and build two new elementary schools.ìBy a two-to-one margin, our community validated the work that we have done together that identified a plan that supported teachers, students and taxpayers,î said Matt Meister, D 49 director of communications. We see that as a sign that they agree with the direction the district is headed, and they support the leadership.ìWe identified more than 140 projects at the existing schools as we were developing the plan over the last year, and a lot of that work will begin over the next severalmonths.î Meister said administrators are already finalizing the plans for the two new elementary schools.Marie LaVere-Wright, D 49 board of education president, said she is grateful for the overwhelming show of support from the community, which confirms the people are willing to invest in the future. The BOE will require periodic reports on the progress of the various projects, including financial statements about how the money is being used. Those reports will be available to the public on the D 49 website, she said.ìAs part of being transparent with our community, we are inviting community members to participate in the mill levy override oversight committee to hold us accountable,î she said. ìWe want to get the widest cross-section of people involved in these committees, because it gives them a voice.î
