Community Spirit–May 2026
Ryan Ruggles, District Administrator
Engaging our Community: Planning for the Future
There are a lot of things that make our district a special place. It isn't just the updated classrooms, new STEAM Center, our amazing staff, or the technology we use; it is the deep connection between our schools and the families we serve. One of our core beliefs is that we are truly better together, and that is why we are launching a series of Community Engagement nights. These events are designed to be a way for the community to give important feedback to the district for future planning purposes.
Our community engagement nights are scheduled for Wednesday, May 6 and Wednesday, June 3 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the district cafeteria. Both nights will be structured the same. It will start with a short presentation on the state of the district including the budget, and then we will have table top conversations around important topics such as our academic offerings, student experience, safety, facilities, and the skills/characteristics that our community values the most. We will take notes from each table and have a whole group share out.
A critical part of this collaborative process involves supporting our teacher leadership teams. We have teams for each building meeting over the summer to work on building level plans and we plan to use feedback from these community nights as part of that work. Part of this long-term planning is to ensure our curriculum remains rigorous and relevant, and we align classroom learning with the skills our graduates need to succeed in an ever changing world.
Beyond the classroom, we are also looking toward the horizon of our district goals and strategic plan. Our Board of Education is currently discussing our priorities for years to come. Whether it is improving our facilities, supporting extracurricular offerings, or enhancing student mental health resources, the Board needs to know what you value the most. Your feedback ensures that our strategic plan isn't just a document on a shelf, but a living reflection of our shared community vision for educating all students.
Lastly, one of the most pressing topics we must address together is our financial future. As we look at our long term budget, we are preparing for the expiration of our current operational referendum at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 school year. We have been under an operational referendum for about 20 years in Tomorrow River, and the current one was three years for $900,000 each year. This referendum ensures our daily operations, covering everything from utilities and maintenance to competitive wages for our staff. Renewing this support is essential to maintaining the high standard of excellence the Tomorrow River community expects and deserves.
I invite each of you to join us in these engagement sessions. We are talking about the future of our neighbors, our friends, and our children. By participating in our upcoming meetings and sharing your honest feedback, you are helping us build a sustainable, thriving school district and community. Together we can ensure that Tomorrow River Schools remain a point of pride for generations to come, and is looked up to as one of the best districts in Wisconsin. We are better together!