2024-25 budget: Initial proposal prioritizes Pathways, long-term stability

District 191 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Battle submitted her initial budget proposal for the 2024-25 school year to the Board of Education at its March 14 meeting. Members of the District 191 community are invited to review and provide feedback on the proposal.

Battle noted several factors that are having a major influence on the district’s financial outlook, including higher than typical inflation, the loss of $8.5 million in federal pandemic aid and an expected decline in enrollment. In response, the proposed budget includes $2.4 million in reductions and the use of $3.2 million from the district’s unassigned fund balance, which is basically the district’s savings account.

“As always, we took a values- and priorities-based approach to creating this proposed budget, including prioritizing our PreK-12 Pathways model,” Battle said. “The theme of our budgeting over the last couple years has been cautious optimism. I believe the budget proposal we’re presenting tonight shows the benefits of that approach. While many districts in Minnesota are facing dire financial challenges, we’re making measured steps to ensure continued stability.”

Highlights of the proposed budget include:

• Maintain class sizes.
• Add 4.6 English Language (EL) teacher positions to support an increase in multilingual students.
• Keep 9 elementary classroom teachers using restricted funds.
• Add 2.8 middle school teaching positions using restricted funds.
• Add boys’ high school volleyball.
• Using restricted funds, maintain several positions previously paid for by pandemic aid funds, 2 including middle school math interventionists, 2 high school credit recovery teachers, 7.7 elementary educational assistants, 2 districtwide cultural liaisons, and others.

Community members can see details and provide feedback on the proposed budget at www.isd191.org/budget or by attending a public presentation on Wednesday, April 17 at 6 p.m. at Diamondhead Education Center, 200 W. Burnsville Pkwy. in Burnsville. 

Board members will review feedback and consider adjustments at a meeting later this spring. The budget will officially be adopted in June.