Superintendent Newsletter

Over the next several months, I will share a weekly Wednesday update with you regarding the referendum questions on the April 4, 2023 ballot, and the reconfiguration of our district for the fall 2023-2024 school year. I want to ensure that you have the most accurate information available in a consistent and timely manner.

My priorities for our district are unwavering. I believe in the importance of student academic achievement, continuous improvement, and service at the highest level. I look forward to staying connected with you, as we move these two important initiatives forward.

In service,

Superintendent Dr. Garrison

At the Tuesday, February 21, 2023, Board of Education meeting, the Board unanimously voted to approve the reconfiguration of our schools for the 2023-2024 school year to 3K through 5th grade elementary schools, 6th grade through 8th grade middle schools, and a continuation of a 9th through 12th grade high school.

The vote by our School Board reinforces the feedback received from our families, students, staff, and community that this reconfiguration is needed.

For the 2023-2024 school year, our current third-grade students will remain in their elementary school. Our current 4th grade students will return to our elementary school buildings. Conversations and meetings surrounding the transition and reconfiguration of our middle schools will begin next week. You will receive information from your child’s principal and our district on the upcoming meetings. I am committed to transparent and timely communication that includes feedback and input from our students, families, and community.

Thank you for your continued support of our district, our schools, and your child(ren)’s education. We are better together than we are apart.

The School District of Beloit Board will have two referendum questions on the Tuesday, April 4th ballot. The first question is a Facilities Referendum and the second question is an Operational Referendum.

We have scheduled a number of in-person and virtual community informational sessions to learn more about our two referendum questions. I encourage you to attend and participate one of these sessions.

Link to our in-person community informational sessions.

Link to our virtual community informational sessions.

If you have any questions about the referendums, please access our Referendum Website.

• A safe, secure, and welcoming entrance to Beloit Memorial High School for our students, staff, visitors, and volunteers.

• HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) at Beloit Memorial High School for an optimal teaching and learning environment for our students and staff.

• Upgrades and maintenance to our outdoor sports fields, including football, soccer, track and field, and baseball. We want our student-athletes to play WIAA events on our home fields.

• Student social, emotional, and behavioral learning needs.

• Student and classroom technology.

• Student curriculum and instructional materials.

• Replenishing our Fund Balance:

• To address and respond to emergencies that could occur in our district that are not planned.

• To take care of our staff. The state of Wisconsin is not always timely in providing its financial commitments, so we sometimes have to use our fund balance to pay staff.

• To maintain a healthy fund balance. Our policy states that we want our fund balance to be between 14% to 25% of our overall budget. This is not unique to our district. Districts all over the state have policy regarding fund balance levels.

It is estimated that the mill rate will stay the same in 2023-2024 at $4.78

• The current tax mill rate (the rate the district charges your tax bill) is $4.78 per $1,000 fair market property value:

• If you own property valued at 100,000, your school tax is estimated at $478 for 2022-23.

• If you own property valued at $50,000, your school tax is estimated at $239 for 2022-23