Maercker D60 Community,
I want to thank everyone who was able to join me in person and online at last night’s D60 Financial Forum for demonstrating your commitment to our schools, for the thoughtful questions you asked, and for your engagement in these important discussions. If you were not able to attend or if you missed the livestream, a recording of the Forum is available on our YouTube Channel.
As I shared at the Forum, and in previous messages, Maercker D60 is experiencing growing financial challenges driven in part by the state’s school funding system, particularly as it relates to special education funding and transportation. Due to rising expenses and reduced reimbursements from the state, the district has been using financial reserves to meet obligations. This cannot be sustained long term without additional action.
I want to reiterate an important message shared in earlier updates: there will be no changes to programs, staffing, or services for the current school year. While we have already taken steps to control costs and protect classroom instruction, additional actions are needed to ensure the district’s long-term financial stability, with proposed changes focused on the 2026-27 school year and beyond.
Our Financial Working Group composed of teachers, union leaders, administrators and school board members, reviewed the district’s financial outlook and provided feedback on a range of proposals to address the budget shortfall. I am grateful for the group’s thoughtful guidance and feedback as we navigate these challenging financial circumstances.
After careful study, I am bringing forward a series of recommendations to reduce expenses for next year while still providing exemplary learning experiences for our Wildcats. I encourage you to review these recommendations on the D60 Financial Hub webpage, where you can submit questions or comments via a Google Form. This feedback will be helpful as the Board of Education discusses these recommendations at next week’s special meeting.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to provide an exceptional educational experience for our students and to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.
Regards,
Dr. Sean Nugent
Superintendent
