歪歪漫画

BEMIDJI 鈥� Following an April 22 work session, the Bemidji Area 歪歪漫画s Board of Education took official action on Monday on more than $1.5 million in budget cuts as it approaches the end of the 2025 fiscal year.

A process that takes place every year, Superintendent Jeremy Olson detailed the financial background of the district and reasons that cuts are needed 鈥� namely, state aid not keeping up with inflation and the district operating in a structural deficit since 2018, when COVID dollars are removed from the equation.

鈥淪ince then, the average revenue increase (to the district) has been 2.36%. Since 2019, the average expense increase has been 3.23%. That鈥檚 a problem,鈥� Olson said. 鈥淭his is why we are looking at making reductions.鈥�

Had state aid kept up with inflation, Olson noted that the district should have received 18.7% more revenue for fiscal year 2025.

鈥淐an you imagine a world in which we received 18.7% more revenue? We would not be having these discussions,鈥� he added.

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

When considering district reductions, Olson laid out two primary goals.

鈥淕oal No. 1 is to keep as many cuts outside the classroom as possible,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he second is to reduce attrition as much as possible, meaning that we wanted to reduce positions and lessen our impact on people.鈥�

Categorically, classroom reductions clocked in at 53% of all cuts or $890,000. Non-classroom reductions came in at 46% or roughly $780,000.

Olson emphasized that while classroom reductions total 53%, their corresponding portion of the district鈥檚 annual budget clocks in at 65%. Non-classroom reductions make up 15% of the district鈥檚 annual budget and 22% of all proposed cuts.

Furthermore, district administration and support services make up 7% of the district鈥檚 annual budget, but make up 23% of proposed cuts.

Administrative reductions include the elimination of an elementary principal position, with a principal being shared between Northern and Solway Elementary. Another change would come with the consolidation of the middle school and high school activities departments, which would necessitate the elimination of the Dean of Students position at BMS.

District office consolidation and reduction of the Gene Dillon Elementary secretary鈥檚 term from 12 months to nine months capped off administrative reductions.

Olson moved on to extracurricular cuts, which make up 3% of the district鈥檚 annual budget and 1% of proposed cuts.

鈥淭he proposal for extracurricular reductions was a reduction of debate, consolidation of boys swimming coaches and a combination of our cheerleading squads,鈥� Olson explained.

Other non-classroom reductions included cuts to library media specialists and a high school scholarship position. Classroom reductions would affect four full-time equivalent teachers at the elementary level, two FTEs at BMS and four FTEs at BHS.

One reduction at BHS 鈥� one FTE in special education 鈥� would be added at BMS and Gene Dillon Elementary starting next school year.

Given its effects on district stakeholders, eight community members took turns at the podium to share their thoughts on the reductions during the public participation portion of the night.

With her job in jeopardy, library media specialist Shirley Lipscy shared about her eight years at the district and the student-facing nature of her role. She noted that reading proficiency rates at Gene Dillon and BMS currently sit at 52% and 49%, respectively.

鈥淭he proposal is to cut the library program even more. Our library program is what helps fuel literacy along with our English teachers and classroom teachers,鈥� Lipscy said. 鈥淲e need to be growing these numbers, not cutting back on programs.鈥�

BHS students Ella Thorson and Brynn Klaers spoke on behalf of the debate program and the value they derive from their involvement.

鈥淒ebate is not just about arguing. It鈥檚 about teaching students how to think critically, to analyze both sides of an argument and to communicate those ideas with clarity and evidence,鈥� Thorson said. 鈥淲e draft bills and resolutions, research national and global issues, and stand in front of our peers to defend our positions just like real legislators.

鈥淭his is civics in action and this is democracy in practice. Cutting this program sends a message that these skills 鈥� leadership, critical thinking and informed citizenship 鈥� are expendable, but they most definitely are not. In fact, they are the very foundation of what it means to be an educated American.鈥�

Falling in line with board sentiment from last Tuesday鈥檚 work session, Solway Elementary parent Jennifer Casey expressed disapproval of reductions at the school, which could lead to a merger of the second and third grades.

鈥淚t was hard to digest, knowing that Solway is at risk of losing a valued teacher and merging grades,鈥� Casey said. 鈥淪olway is small enough to offer close relationships with students and parents, yet large enough to provide all the services students need to be successful.鈥�

Given public comment, the board shared their own thoughts regarding the budget cuts, recognizing their necessity alongside difficulty.

鈥淚 see immense value in every staff member and I鈥檓 grateful for every person who works hard each day to help our students succeed. I feel confident saying that the rest of the board feels the same way,鈥� board member Jack Aakhus said. 鈥淯nfortunately, our legal obligation to balance the budget forces us to make difficult choices.

鈥淗ow can costs be greatly reduced while continuing to offer the same quality and quantity of services? Maintaining the status quo is not a luxury that we have.鈥�

Addressing noticeable support for debate, Aakhus had recently donated $3,500 for the program to continue its operations for at least the next year.

鈥淲e do, at this point, have donations that would equate to one year of debate costs for the entire program,鈥� Olson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a very costly program.鈥�

Another sticking point was the reduction at Solway Elementary. Board member Anna Manecke moved to amend the resolution regarding reductions and additions in programs and positions to remove that specific reduction, which was met with unanimous board approval.

This amendment also meant that Solway teacher Katherine Brandt would not receive notice of termination as was originally spelled out in a separate resolution concerning terminations and nonrenewal of contracts for those with probationary or tier 1 teaching licenses once the 2024-2025 school year concludes.

All other reductions and additions were approved unanimously, still meeting the board鈥檚 $1.5 million target.

With budgetary decisions set in stone for next year, the board took some time to consider what future years may hold in terms of funding. Board treasurer Ann Long Voelkner reflected on the district鈥檚 two failed referendum attempts in 2020 and 2021, an option she hopes to revisit in the coming years.

鈥淲e鈥檝e asked a number of times for the community to support our students through operating levies, and they have declined,鈥� Long-Voelkner said. 鈥淲e have to look in all places, all corners in order to reduce our budget. 鈥� I will be talking with legislators, federally and state, and participate in any opportunity to bring back the referendum opportunity to the community.鈥�

Columns

Jeremy Olson Column: Working toward a sustainable financial future

If state aid had kept up with inflation since 2003, Bemidji Area 歪歪漫画s would receive 18.7% more in revenue, resulting in a balanced budget significantly in the black.

Dec 31, 1969

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By  Jeremy Olson, Bemidji Area 歪歪漫画s

Board clerk Jenny Frenzel shared similar sentiments, noting concern over funding at the local, state and federal levels of government.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 keep putting Band-Aids on our budget. We have to fix it, and we need support,鈥� Frenzel said. 鈥淥ur last two referendums have failed. Our public is not supporting education. Why? We have to start fighting that battle. I鈥檓 scared for public education right now.鈥�

Board vice chair Todd Haugen emphasized the necessity of the budget cuts while recognizing broader funding issues beyond the school district.

鈥淭hese actions we鈥檝e just taken affect people鈥檚 lives, and we take that very seriously. None of us enjoy this process, but it鈥檚 what has to happen for our school district to continue on,鈥� Haugen said. 鈥淣one of us like any part of this.鈥�

The full meeting can be viewed on the The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 19, in the district board room.