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Please support Indian River referendum

February 24, 2017

To our fellow educators, parents, and families: on March 2 we have a decision to make. It is a decision that will set the course for the Indian River School District over the foreseeable future. It is a decision that will affect the over 10,000 students that are busy learning every day in classrooms throughout the district. It is a decision that will affect the over 1,000 employees, their families, and the communities where they live and work.

On March 2, the Indian River School District will be going to referendum. On this day we will be asking residents of the district to approve an increase in their taxes. We will be asking for an increase of 49 cents per $100 of assessed value. We are asking for a .049 percent increase (less than one half a percent). To the average homeowner this is an increase of $95.41 a year (or less than $8 per month). Without this increase, our rooms and the children's experiences in school will change drastically. We as a district could potentially lose 90 teachers, 20 paraprofessionals, 12 food service staff, 10 custodians, and 7.5 secretaries (139.5 people). We have been one of the top-performing districts in the state for decades, and we cannot continue our great work if we lose almost 10 percent of our staff!

This referendum is not just about numbers, it is about continuing to provide a high-quality education to the students of the Indian River School District. It is about making a commitment to provide the resources to enrich their experiences during arguably the most important 13-plus years of their lives. It is about making a statement that we have pride in our achievements and we will continue to be a preferred district in Sussex County.

To our fellow stakeholders, partners and surrounding community: on March 2 we have an opportunity. It is an opportunity to make a statement that we will support our students, our schools, our future. It is an opportunity to continue the prestigious programs, innovations, and supports that have made our district a top performer and lead example in our state. It is an opportunity to prove that we can continue to unite as a community to overcome adversity and continue to provide the best experience and education for the students of the Indian River School District.

Members of the Indian River Education Association

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