Last night, Tuesday March 17, Superintendent Blane McCann spoke before nearly 100 people in the community to answer more questions regarding the proposed Budget Report. McCann also hosted a similar meeting earlier in the day at the ABC building.

At the meetings, director of communications Dr. Peggy Rupprecht asked McCann questions that were sent in through the “Let’s Talk” forum on the district website and questions that attendees wrote down on notecards at the beginning on the meeting. Many of the questions involved the history of the shortfall, administration positions and the activities that could be affected if the proposal is passed.

The meeting, while it only lasted an hour, was another opportunity for people to get their questions answered from McCann and the school board’s perspective. While the school board wants to finalize some of the decisions by the end of the month, attendees including Bob Toy think the meeting was just the beginning of the discussion between the district and community.

“In my mind, it’s a great opportunity to hear what’s on their minds,” Toy said. “[We need to get] good frank answers and I don’t think the conversation’s over.”

Many people at the meeting, including Patrick Linehan, wished the meeting would have provided an opportunity for public comment and would’ve served as more of a conversation.

“I think the district has to do a much better job of improving the community’s relationships,” Linehan said. “Right now there are a lot of disenhearted people and our voices just aren’t being heard. I think the meeting was organized and orchestrated in such a way that it favored certain views.”

The next school board meeting is on Monday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m at the ABC building.