November 24, 2025
Dear Community Stakeholders of the Silex R-1 School District,
I hope this message finds you well. On behalf of the Silex R-1 School District, I want to express my sincere appreciation for your continued support and partnership. Our district continues to succeed because of the collaboration among our families, staff, and community members who are committed to doing what is best for students.
I am proud to share that Silex R-1 earned the highest Annual Performance Review (APR) score in Lincoln County this year. Our score of 80.7%, a 7.3% increase from the previous school year, reflects the outstanding work of our teachers, the effort of our students, and the support of our community. This growth demonstrates the positive impact of strong instructional practices, effective planning, and high expectations for all learners.
Many have also expressed questions or concerns regarding recent tax bills. The county divides your school tax into two listed categories: “Silex R-1” and “Silex R-1 Debt.”
The Silex R-1 Debt portion pays for the remaining obligations on the 2014 and 2021 voter-approved bond issues—funds the community authorized to improve district facilities.
When I arrived in 2022, we were completing the 2021 bond projects, which included six new classrooms, paving of parking lots, upgrades to the baseball field, new parking lot lighting, and a pickup road to improve student and parent safety by removing traffic from Highway UU.
In addition, we replaced five heating and air-conditioning units that were more than 15 years old and had failed.
During this time, we also undertook a significant renovation of the old gym, transforming it into a versatile and inviting space for district and community use. This upgraded facility now serves as an excellent venue for public forums, such as our Veterans Day assembly, and is ideal for hosting alumni gatherings and community events. It also provides a dedicated space for our elementary students to receive Physical Education and a safe, reliable location for them to practice in the evenings, addressing both instructional and extracurricular needs.
Thanks to careful financial oversight, the district has been fiscally conservative enough to replace nearly two-thirds of the roof without asking taxpayers for additional funds. This approach reflects our commitment to maintaining safe, functional facilities while respecting the financial investment made by our community.
It is important to emphasize that the Silex R-1 School District still has the lowest operating levy in Lincoln County, even when including debt service. For the 2025–2026 school year, our district operates on an operating levy of 2.9377 and a debt service levy of 1.0023, and our overall levy rate has remained consistent for the past three years. We remain deeply committed to transparency and responsible stewardship of district resources.
As we look ahead, our focus remains on providing high-quality education, maintaining safe and effective school environments, and ensuring that Silex R-1 continues to be a district our community is proud to support.
Thank you for your trust, partnership, and continued support of our students.
Sincerely,
Nick Heggemann
Superintendent
Silex R-1 School District