Your Dollars at Work

In Indiana, school referendums allow local voters to decide whether a school district can receive additional local funding beyond the standard funding formula established by the State.

Operating referendums are commonly used to support day-to-day educational operations such as:

• Student programs
• Staffing
• Safety and security
• Transportation
• Student support services
• Academic opportunities

Referendums are voted on locally by the community and are time-limited, usually lasting  a few years

No, at this time, discussions are ongoing regarding future district financial needs and possible funding options. No final referendum decision has been made.

This page is intended to help provide information and transparency as those conversations continue

This is one of the most common misconceptions about school finance in Indiana.

Construction projects, renovations, and debt service are funded differently than classroom operational expenses.

In many cases:

• Facility funding comes from separate construction or debt service funds
• Operational dollars for staffing and student services cannot simply be replaced with construction dollars
• Long-term facility planning often occurs years in advance based on enrollment growth and infrastructure needs

Westfield has experienced significant population growth over the past two decades, which has required additional schools, classrooms, transportation infrastructure, and facility expansion to serve students safely and effectively.

These projects are intended to support long-term community growth and maintain learning environments that safely serve students now and into the future.

It’s true there is a lot of construction happening. A majority of these projects were approved multiple years ago in order to make room for new Shamrocks due to the district’s growth, while also providing safe and updated facilities for students to learn in, staff to educate in, and for the community to access

The current referendum funding continues to support district operations.

However, changes related to state funding formulas, tax caps, assessed value dynamics, inflationary pressures, and SEA 1 have impacted how much revenue districts are ultimately able to collect and retain.

Additional financial breakdowns and historical referendum information will be added to this page in future updates as part of the district’s ongoing commitment to transparency.

Compensation is one component of school district operations, but discussions around future funding are broader than employee raises alone.

School funding supports:

• Maintaining manageable class sizes
• Retaining quality educators and staff
• Student safety
• Counseling and mental health supports
• Transportation services
• Academic programming
• Arts, athletics, and extracurricular opportunities
• Day-to-day school operations

Like many industries, schools continue to face competitive staffing challenges and rising operational costs.

For families, staffing stability directly impacts classroom consistency and student support.

For the broader community, strong schools help Westfield remain a place where families want to live, businesses want to invest, and students are prepared for future success.

Many Indiana districts are currently experiencing increased financial pressure due to:

• Changes in state funding structures
• Property tax reform legislation
• Rising operational costs
• Transportation expenses
• Student support needs
• Staffing shortages
• Inflationary impacts

Districts across the state are responding in different ways depending on local needs and financial conditions.

Public schools impact the broader community in many ways beyond serving enrolled students.

Strong public schools contribute to:

• Property values
• Workforce development
• Community stability
• Economic growth
• Public safety partnerships
• Community attractiveness for families and businesses

Schools also serve as gathering places for athletics, performing arts, civic engagement, and community events.

For example, WWS facilities provide space for these organizations in order to serve the Westfield community at large:

• Youth sports and activity organizations
• Scout and youth leadership groups
• Community and nonprofit organizations
• Churches and faith-based groups
• Cultural and arts organizations
• Educational and university partners
• Neighborhood associations and local businesses

Many residents choose Westfield specifically because of the strength and reputation of its schools, even if they do not currently have children enrolled

We understand that growth in Westfield has created strong feelings for many residents.

For some, growth brings excitement and opportunity. For others, it brings concerns about traffic, housing density, infrastructure, rising costs, and changes to the character of the community. Those concerns are real and part of many ongoing conversations across Westfield.

While we are a partner to the city, Westfield Washington Schools does not control residential development decisions, zoning approvals, or city growth policies. However, the district’s fundamental purpose is educating the students who live here and planning for the realities of enrollment, staffing, transportation, safety, and facility capacity that come with a growing community.

As Westfield has grown, the district has needed to adapt by:

• Adding classroom space and facilities
• Expanding transportation systems
• Supporting student mental health and safety needs
• Hiring and retaining qualified staff
• Maintaining educational experiences and manageable learning environments
• Supporting both academic success and whole-child development

For families, these conversations are often about maintaining educational quality and student experience during periods of rapid growth.

For residents without children in the schools, these conversations are often broader questions about community planning, stability, infrastructure, and quality of life.

There are many different valid opinions on Westfield’s growth. We’re not here to weigh in on those opinions. Our goal is to provide transparent information about how growth impacts public schools and what challenges districts must plan for as communities change over time