Superintendent Hile endorses Noblesville Schools referendum

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Dear Editor:

The referendum process is never an easy one. None of us like paying property taxes; and with the increase in costs that we’re all feeling right now, these discussions have the potential to feel even more divisive than normal.

One part of the process that I greatly appreciate; however, is that it provides me the opportunity to get to meet so many new people. As I’ve traveled all over Noblesville these past few months holding over 40 public meetings to share information and answer questions, it has been a blessing to meet so many members of our community and hear their stories and perspectives.

My role in the process is to educate our community about the referendum to ensure everyone has the facts needed to make an informed decision. Put another way, it is my job to make sure that our community understands the impact and consequences of either a “yes” or “no” outcome.

The reality is that operating referendums have become a part of the annual budget for many districts in our area, as we all strive to deliver the outstanding school experiences and outcomes that our communities have come to expect.

For Noblesville specifically, our community has supported our schools through an operating referendum for 16 consecutive years. This funding sustains countless academic programs, school safety initiatives, student mental health supports, and opportunities for our students that would not be possible otherwise. Our current referendum that expires this year provides almost 20 percent of our operating budget, which is approximately $25 million this year.

If the referendum is not renewed, our district will need to make deep cuts in order to rebalance the budget. Operating referendums exist to support ongoing operational expenses; if that funding ends, then the ongoing investments in programs, supports, and opportunities for students the district has made over all those years will need to end as well.

Because of our ongoing commitment to minimize costs for our taxpayers, our school, and district leaders constantly work hard to review and streamline operational costs each year. Last school year alone, we reduced our annual district budget by over $4 million. This was done through strategic reductions to staff, including the elimination of four administrator positions and the realignment of roles and job duties to do more with less. Financial management decisions like these have helped Noblesville Schools become the highest credit rated school district in Indiana.

Ultimately, the referendum decision is up to our friends and neighbors, and our community will quite literally tell us what they want for the future of our schools.

A vote “yes” will tell us that our community wishes for our current programming, opportunities, and support for students and investments in our teachers and staff to continue.

A vote “no” will tell us that our community wants our district to make significant budgetary reductions that will require impactful reductions in staff and programming.

We will honor the decision either way, and will proceed accordingly.

While many of us have already voted early, I know that some prefer to wait and head to the polls on election day. If you still have questions about the referendum, I would encourage you to check out the factual information on the Noblesville Schools website: noblesvilleschools.org/referendum. There, you will find a link to a video of my full community presentation, answers to a lot of common questions and misunderstandings that have been circulating, and a calculator that will let you easily see the current and future impact of the referendum on your specific home.

I can’t thank our community enough for all the ways you support our children, our schools, and each other. As I say often, it truly is an honor to serve our amazing community, and I feel blessed to call Noblesville my home.

Daniel G. Hile, Ph.D.
Superintendent, Noblesville Schools