Thanks to The North 40 Tavern for their support. A north woods tavern somewhere in the middle of a big city. They regularly rotate tap beers, so stop in to see what’s currently flowing.
At the end of a school board meeting packed with updates and progress across the ISD 197, the superintendent raised the issue of a potential levy to help address an ongoing funding gap.
Potential Levy to Address Budget Issues
Superintendent Peter Olson-Skog addressed the district’s financial position and looming deficits with a plan for a potential levy.
- No decision yet: Olson-Skog laid out broad strokes with no specific numbers and emphasized that this was a preliminary conversation to inform the board and the community. There was nothing for the board to vote on.
- Why: While the board approved $2.5 million in cuts for next year, the financial realities are still difficult. In short, the district expects to see 1% revenue growth and 3% expenditure growth in the coming years. That funding gap widens every year, compounding the problems. The $2.5 million in cuts forestall it for next year, but the gap remains.
- At issue: This challenge isn’t unique to ISD 197—most districts are facing the same problem. The issue is that state funding continues to lag behind inflation. Recently the legislature tied some funding to inflation, which helped, though it’s still capped at 3% and not all funding is tied to inflation. Some education funding, like special education, is being cut.
- What would the levy do: The levy wouldn’t add any new programs or buildings, but simply allow the district to maintain current offerings or reduce the cuts they need to make. The funding gap would still return in future years, but levy support would make a big difference.
- What’s next: If the board chooses to move forward with a levy, it would require action in May or June to start an official comment period. Then they would vote again in August to put it on the ballot for the November election.
“The school district will live within our means,” said Olson-Skog. “[But] it’s in the district’s interest to at least put it in front of our voters to say, ‘Do you want to defray some of the cuts that we would otherwise need to make?’ … Eventually it’s the community that decides what we’re going to do.”
College and Career Readiness
District staff gave an update on implementation targets for college and career readiness. Among other areas, they focused on two recent accomplishments:
- Tech help desk: Two Rivers launched a student-run technology help desk in the library. This is an offshoot of the Tech Warriors club that helps with technical support and audio/visual needs. The plan is for the help desk to offer a credit-earning opportunity for students next year.
- Agriculture work-based learning: The Tri-District CAPS program launched an agriculture-based health sciences program that covers natural resources, sustainability, and food systems. The class is offered in partnership with Dodge Nature Center and leads to work-based learning and internships.
Somerset Site Report
Interim Principal Mark Quinn gave an update on Somerset Elementary School:
- Points of pride: Quinn highlighted much-loved Star Student behavior awards, the welcoming culture, and student affinity groups, such as the Spanish language group that meets for breakfast.
- Looking ahead: Quinn focused on several ongoing programs, including a multilingual component to staff communication with families, further rollout of the AmazeWorks curriculum, and teachers implementing their self-regulated strategy development training to help students with writing.
Recognitions
Olson-Skog recognized multiple student groups:
- Winter guard: Two Rivers Winter Guard just completed an undefeated season.
- Shrek the Musical: Students from Moreland performed a quick song from their recent performance of Shrek the Musical Kids.
- Science Olympiad: Two Rivers Science Olympiad students shared about their projects and competitions.
- Math teams: The Friendly Hills and Heritage math teams finished first and second respectively in a recent southeast metro competition, where the two have taken the top spots in every meet since 2021.
Other Items on the Agenda
- Student representatives’ report: Student Representatives Rhys Walsh and Evangeline Fuentes gave updates on Moreland’s kindness fundraiser, Somerset’s Read Across America activities, Pilot Knob’s Lego League earning a teamwork award, Garlough’s concert, Friendly Hills students reading over 157,000 minutes during their read-a-thon, the sixth grade team who won Battle of the Books at Heritage, taste testing new foods in the cafeteria at Two Rivers, and more.
- Superintendent’s report: Olson-Skog highlighted Thrive With Us scholarship recipients, a program designed to help staff get teaching licenses and return to teach in the district, an after school program that focuses on landing jobs, and introduced new Somerset Principal Amy Kujawski who will start in July.
- Committee updates: Multiple committees gave updates, including the Curriculum Advisory Committee that noted the value of student voice, the Gifted and Talented Advisory Committee that is exploring a new name to better fit the work they actually do, and the Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee that is rolling out a pathway of courses from middle school to high school.
Engage
- More: Agendas and minutes for ISD 197 School Board meetings are available online.
- Watch: You can watch this meeting online. Board Members Sarah Larsen and Jon Vaupel also gave a video recap of the meeting.
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