District overview
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
The School District of West Salem serves about 1,841 students and is run by a seven-member elected Board of Education. State aid and local property taxes pay for most costs, but a state limit caps how much the district can raise locally. Voters can approve extra spending above that cap in a referendum, and West Salem has done so repeatedly.
Catherine Griffin is board president, Caitlin Wilson vice president, Jennifer Hatz clerk and Trish Harman treasurer. Ryan Rieber is superintendent. The board meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays.
State aid and local property taxes, limited by a state revenue limit. Voters approved a recurring $3.5 million-a-year operating question and a $28 million capital question in November 2024.
Four seats were up in April 2026: two three-year terms, one two-year term and one one-year term, followed by a board reorganization on April 27.
The district shares a special education program with Holmen, buys CESA #4 services and a food service agreement with Bangor.
This page rests on agendas and minutes. The adopted 2026-27 budget and tax levy were not in the collected records.
The $28 million question funds a career and technical education addition with a fitness center at the high school, a gym addition and renovations at the elementary school and district-wide capital maintenance. Construction started in 2025.
Referendum approved Nov. 2024 (bonded)
The board approved a full-day program, removed the 4K open-enrollment cap for 2026-27 and added a 4K teacher and aide.
Not stated
The board approved an engagement contract in June 2026 for strategic plan facilitation and reviewed progress in August. A strategic planning survey was also posted on the district site.
Not stated
Spring election April 6, 2027. The 2026 election filled four seats with terms of one to three years, so at least the one-year seat comes up again; seats and candidates for 2027 are not yet posted.
Official source · verified Nov 10, 2026
Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Built from 40 posted agendas, 21 sets of minutes, two board policies and two referendum pages, covering Nov. 2025 to Nov. 2026.
We read every agenda, packet, recording, and set of minutes, and write up the decisions that affect families — each one linked to the document it came from.
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