Mostly Lone Tree School District’s concerns were heard at the Highland community meeting held Wednesday.

The Highland and Lone Tree Superintendents spoke to community members at the Highland High School about the operational sharing possibilities of superintendent, transportation, human resources, and buildings and grounds/maintenance directors.

Highland Interim Superintendent Dr. Mike Jorgensen explains why the Highland school board would prefer not to hire a full-time superintendent for next year, “When we lost the 38 students and we know that we’re looking at a $253,000 deficit, that kind of eliminated that as a viable option. And the reason for that is if they were to go with a full-time superintendent they need to reduce another $100,000 out of their budget which would probably be at least two full-time staff or some programming.”

When asked how he feels about possibly sharing two districts, Lone Tree Superintendent Ken Crawford said he looks at it as a challenge. This is Crawford’s first year in his superintendent career serving Lone Tree. Lone Tree School Board member Joel Yedlik spoke of the community’s comments on sharing Crawford, “I don’t want to step on Highland’s toes but from what I’m hearing from the crowd, and please yell at me if you want because I’m hearing you loud and clear. You’re worried more, not about the money, you’re worried that the education’s going to change, and how is it going to change?”

The four proposed sharing opportunities would give a savings of $139,944 to each district’s general fund. A second community meeting will be held in the Lone Tree Media Center Wednesday, December 6, at 6 p.m. The boards seek to make a decision before February.