May 5, 2026
Good evening, members of the Board.
I am Billy Burke, the Executive Director of CASE. I speak before you tonight to give voice to a question that is currently echoing through every hallway, office, and classroom in this district. It is a simple question, but the silence following it is becoming deafening.
What is the plan?
Our administrators are committed to the success and safety of every student. However, we are facing a mathematical impossibility. We are being asked to raise achievement scores and tighten safety protocols while simultaneously facing significant staffing reductions. You cannot ask leaders to do “more with less” indefinitely without a roadmap. Our members need to know how they are expected to bridge the gap between rising expectations and shrinking resources.
The uncertainty is perhaps most acute for our Assistant Principals. We have dedicated CASE members and central office staff who have been told their positions at their current schools and offices are being eliminated for next year. They are professionals; they understand the budget realities. But they are currently living in a professional limbo.
How can we expect these leaders to finish the school year strong—providing resources and services, administering standardized testing, managing finals, graduations, and school climate—when they don’t know where they will be come July? We need a clear timeline and a transparent plan for these reassignments. They deserve the respect of knowing their future.
Finally, we must address the clock. We are now less than 60 days away from having no Superintendent at the helm of this district.
A district of this size cannot drift. Stability starts at the top, and right now, our members feel as though they are rowing a ship without a captain in sight of the horizon. We need to know the plan for the transition of leadership. Who will be making the hard calls on July 1st?
In Closing, “What’s the plan?” isn’t just a slogan; it’s a plea for stability. Our administrators are the backbone of this district. They are ready to do the work, but they cannot lead in the dark.
We are again asking this Board to provide the clarity, the timeline, and the vision necessary to move us forward. Our students, our staff, and our CASE members are waiting for an answer.
Thank you.
—Billy Burke, Executive Director