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CROOKSTON SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES 2024-25 BUDGET, HIRES, AND MORE

The Crookston School Board met on Monday evening and approved hiring three teachers, accepted $6,000 in donations, and more. The meeting recap is below.

2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR PRELIMINARY BUDGET APPROVED
The Crookston School Board approved the 2024-2025 adopted budget. Crookston School District Business Manager Blake Stoltman said he used an estimated enrollment of 1,073, which is similar to the 2023-2024 enrollment. The district’s budget has a spending deficit with two large purchases included.
Total revenue is $18,937,949, and the total expenditures are 19,744.749 (76 percent of the expenses are on salaries, wages, and employee benefits), for a deficit of $806,800. “Some factors are in play with increases in services (utilities, water, supply budgets and stuff like that increase overall,” said Stoltman. “Enrollment will stay close to the current year, but if we see an increase, that will have a big impact on the deficit.”
The numbers are estimates, and many things could change when the school year starts. “The goal is to be balanced, and obviously, we aren’t there yet, and we will take advantage of any additional revenue we can get from the state level.”

One of the significant expenditures for the 2024-25 school year is the installation of a new playground at Highland School, which will cost the district around $400,000. “We are looking to raise money, through donations, to help cover the cost of that,” said Stoltman. “We will be keeping a close eye on the budget going forward and have a revision after about six months, which will be the big one. We have some big technology costs and possibly a school bus with $155,000 planned for that, so we might see some savings as it looks like the bus is still a year or two from being delivered.”

TAX ABATEMENT, CAPITAL FACILITIES, AND REFUNDING BONDS
Shelby McQuay, Senior Municipal Advisor and Managing Director at Ehlers Public Finance Advisors had good news for the school board. She informed the board that the Crookston School District was able to issue and sell its General Obligation Tax Abatement, Capital Facilities, and Refunding Bonds in a total of $5.1 million at a 3.32 percent interest rate, and that will save the school district taxpayers $160,000. “In tax, the implications for the taxpayer are minimal, and many will see a slight decrease,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “I am excited for this opportunity to get more money so we can continue going through the things our community and school deserve.”

McQuay also informed the board that the Crookston School District kept its A1 rating with Moodys. “We spent a lot of time giving them information, and they are very detailed. They call out of Chicago and have no clue about rural Minnesota. Still, they ask questions about the school district, the city, the county, the community, the businesses, and economics in and around the city,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “They must have liked us because we kept the A1 rating, which is awesome for the district.”

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER CONTRACT APPROVED
The school board and district school bus drivers agreed on a new contract. The bus drivers will get a 3.5 percent increase, and both sides thought it was a good contract. “We are happy, and it was a fair offer for both sides,” said Superintendent Bergquist.

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL BOOST GRANT
The board approved the acceptance of the Minnesota Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program Boost Grant of almost $6,000. The grant helps pay for the study and research so they can use the information in a larger grant application. “We have compiled all the information, and it put it towards a bigger grant to increase walking and bike trails in the City of Crookston, especially for our younger kids,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “To get the bigger grant, you needed the information that we spent a lot of time collecting, and we got that paid for by the Boost grant.”

HIRING THREE NEW TEACHERS-
The board approved the hiring of three teachers –
Lori Carlson, as an Orchestra teacher. Carlson has 22 years of teaching experience, a BA in Music Education from Concordia College, and a Master of Education from Saint Mary’s University. Four applicants applied for the job.
Cayley Kruckeberg was hired as an Elementary Teacher at Highland School. Kruckeberg is a recent graduate of Bemidji State University and will be in her first year of teaching. Two people applied for the job.
Clara Holland was also hired as an Elementary Teacher at Highland School. Holland is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Superior and will be in her first year of teaching. Two people applied for the job.

RESIGNATIONS-
The board accepted the resignations of the following-

Jayne Nesvig an Elementary Teacher at Highland Elementary School, Marcelo Campoverde the Spanish Instructor at the High School, Holly Mancktelow as a Paraprofessional, Agnes Grenier as a Kitchen Helper at the High School, and Emma Mekkes as a Paraprofessional.

DONATIONS –
The Board accepted $6,000 in donations from the following- 

The Matron’s Club for $200 for the Summer Food Program, the Minnesota Masonic Charities for $500 for the Jr/Sr. Class, the Crookston Masonic Lodge for $500 for the Jr/Sr. Class,  the Minnesota Masonic Charities for $2,000 for the 6th grade Itasca trip, the Crookston Masonic Lodge for $2,000 for the 6th grade Itasca trip, the Crookston FFA Alumni for $300 for the FFA Leadership camp, and $500 from Happy Joe’s of Crookston for the Middle School Field trip.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS-
The board approved renewing Crookston School District’s membership with the Minnesota State High School League and the Minnesota Rural Education Association for $2,280.

NEXT MEETING
The next Crookston School Board meeting will be on Monday, July 22, at 5:00 PM in the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room.

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