School leaders in Grand Forks are actively discussing potential budget cuts as they grapple with a significant deficit of $4.4 million for the 2025-2026 academic year. During a retreat on December 12, 2023, over 40 administrators, teachers, and School Board members explored various strategies to address the financial challenges facing the district.
This gathering marks the fourth of five retreats aimed at realigning the district’s budget. The participants acknowledged the discomfort of making cuts but recognized the necessity of such discussions to ensure fiscal sustainability.
Ali Parkinson, Principal of Discovery Elementary, expressed the collective sentiment among school leaders, stating, “All of us principals have noted that our preference would not be to eliminate any of these things.” The focus, she noted, is on maintaining academic support while being mindful of what is sustainable for the district.
Proposed Revenue and Cost-Cutting Measures
During the meeting, various options emerged for both generating revenue and cutting costs. On the revenue side, leaders considered implementing fees for general education busing, increasing athletic fees, and charging non-resident students for enrollment in specialized courses at the Career Impact Academy.
In terms of cost reductions, discussions included combining elementary schools into K-2 and 3-5 buildings. Kevin Ohnstad, Principal at Phoenix Elementary, presented the idea but noted considerable opposition from his peers. “We do not support this concept as an elementary group,” Ohnstad said, citing concerns about eroding neighborhood schools and logistical challenges for families. He did acknowledge potential advantages, such as improved collaboration among teachers and a decrease in staffing costs.
Another area under scrutiny is the reduction of classes with low enrollment. Kris Arason, Principal of Red River High School, proposed cutting elective courses that traditionally have fewer than 15 students enrolled. He emphasized that essential graduation requirements and support classes would remain intact, stating, “We don’t want to take away those high-level opportunities from kids.”
Furthermore, Arason highlighted that North Dakota mandates 22 credits for graduation, while the Grand Forks School District currently requires 24. He indicated that if course cuts are necessary, the district might need to consider reducing the credit requirements to ensure students can meet their graduation goals.
Technology and Extracurriculars Under Review
The discussion also extended to technology services, with Darin King, the district’s IT manager, outlining the financial implications of the current one-to-one device policy. He suggested moving to a one-to-two or one-to-three device ratio, which could significantly reduce annual upkeep costs from $247,000 to $123,500 for grades three through eight.
In addition, school leaders reviewed the possibility of cutting elementary intramural sports, reducing online course enrollment, and halting curriculum adoptions for elementary schools. The district’s Business Manager, Brandon Baumbach, provided a range of potential savings totaling between $4.4 million to $5.34 million based on various proposals.
The breakdown of possible savings includes:
– Decreasing district-level support services: $544,000 – $655,000
– Closing or combining buildings: $319,000 – $398,000
– Reducing classified staff: $859,000 – $1,050,000
– Cutting investments in educational technology: $253,000 – $309,000
– Decreasing extracurricular investment: $142,000 – $173,000
No formal decisions were made during the retreat, with members planning a special meeting for early January 2024 to gather public input before finalizing any budget cuts. District leaders encourage community members to visit the budget realignment section on the district’s website for more details and to voice their concerns.
