[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6553470,"mediaKeyId","5067535-fcf5392fb018ffe77c28c718f0b27584","parentId",5067535,"title","New Prague board votes to place operating referendum question on Nov. 4 ballot; approves FY26 budget and several resolutions","audioSeconds",834,"startMs",2040000,"endMs",2874000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067535-fcf5392fb018ffe77c28c718f0b27584&start=2040&end=2874","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067535-fcf5392fb018ffe77c28c718f0b27584/thumbnail_2040000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6553470/Minnesota/New-Prague-board-votes-to-place-operating-referendum-question-on-Nov-4-ballot-approves-FY26-budget-and-several-resolutions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553470-8df702b6d5db0025e6d3abd22dbc7b9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775095450&Signature=j7SKu1KOSqpyOvRThdQwcujqiVOm9OSiu8AlY5CUPwoKcijL1bOSVb9NDQrwB7yJWgt--D9MVwgxm4mEHpz77OIKVrIY1jg0BR79biSv5qib2IcU5iSRs4ZrBT426VMwZpm35bTt7vwf3rhnc0zsUIoQRXOz2SEZ23PtCIU-k8tbNiLuwu9XxqJ-lbLDzSyhJMO4DCff0tVK6Vv8TUlg5-RE~dStR0NkRuATUkJniQhzpnooUcyTlF7kGcliQgCkMYFVFm0RA1aZ01ilUsU6GHleHbvlHHlHFmHLfWZB3RLRDgvc~BlMDT9o0DbvOOHgfenp10EEg7E7Fbejo34y7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Prague Area Schools","date","2025-06-24T12:52:25Z","article","The New Prague Area Schools board on June 23 voted to place a new referendum revenue question on the Nov. 4, 2025 special election ballot, approved the district's preliminary FY26 budget and took several related fiscal actions.

Board members approved two related resolutions: one that the board had found it \"necessary and expedient to increase the school district's general education revenue by $510 per pupil, subject to an annual increase at the rate of inflation,\" and a second formal notice of the special election to be held Nov. 4, 2025, with required public‑notice steps described in the resolution. Dan (board clerk) read the resolution language aloud during the meeting.

District business staff had presented two comparable ways to frame local funding: an operating referendum described in board discussion as $2,000,000 per year for 10 years (about $20 per month on a home valued at $400,000, the district's stated median) and a potential separate bond for safety, security and deferred maintenance. Administrators said the board's preference was a single‑question operating referendum to maintain positions and programs rather than a multi‑question ballot.

Brian Feld, the district's director of business services, presented the FY26 preliminary budget. Key figures Feld cited included a projected average daily membership (ADM) of 3,820 (a decline of 86 students), a net projected reduction of about 6.5 full‑time equivalent positions (offset in part by two additional ADCS positions), and a projected unassigned general fund balance of 14.17 percent under the FY26 preliminary budget. Feld also listed several one‑time and recurring budget items: a 2.74 percent increase in state general education aid tied to CPI; about $309,000 in one‑time REED Act funds that will not recur; a projected employer TRA (Teacher Retirement Association) cost increase of about $159,000; and Paid Family Leave Act costs discussed in the presentation.

Feld summarized capital and maintenance projects planned in FY26: Falcon Ridge blinds ($35,000), high school parking lot repairs ($80,000), sidewalk repairs ($25,000), a special education minibus ($119,000 to be purchased with medical assistance funds), three school buses ($435,000), network storage ($150,000), football helmets ($36,000) and three vehicles for driver's education/transportation ($90,000). He said the district projects FY26 general‑fund revenues of about $51,953,702 and total general‑fund expenditures of roughly $51,000,003.

Votes at a glance
- FY26 preliminary general fund budget (second reading and approval): moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; chair called all in favor and the motion passed (voice vote; no roll‑call results recorded). Outcome: approved.
- Resolution calling a special election (resolution finding necessity and calling election for 11/04/2025): moved and seconded; recorded roll call: Karen Yes, Anne Yes, Kim Yes, Dennis Yes, Carrie Yes, Jean Yes, Dan No. Outcome: approved (6–1).
- Notice of special election and ballot language (notice with tax‑impact table and polling places): moved and seconded; recorded roll call: unanimous (all seven board members voted Yes). Outcome: approved.
- Resolution approving the 10‑year facility plan for the Long‑Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) program: approved by roll call (unanimous). Outcome: approved.
- Resolution committing funds for future severance and other post‑employment benefits (commit $78,182 at end of FY24‑25): approved by roll call (unanimous). Outcome: approved.
- Resolution making a permanent transfer from Fund 01 to Fund 02 to cover identified nutrition services bad debt ($133.20): approved by roll call (unanimous). Outcome: approved.

Board discussion emphasized the operating referendum as a maintenance request intended to prevent further program reductions that administrators and several board members said would be required without additional local revenue. Board members repeatedly described the $2,000,000‑per‑year framing as short‑term stability to maintain positions and programming, not a full restoration of previously cut programs. The board also discussed strategy and timing for any future capital bond or additional levies to address facility needs highlighted by the facility task force.

The resolutions set administrative deadlines and public‑notice steps required by state law: written notice to county auditors at least 84 days before the special election; notice to the Minnesota Department of Education commissioner at least 74 days before the special election; mailing to taxpayers 15–45 days before the election; posting at the district office at least 10 days before the election; and publication in the district's official newspaper at least twice with the last publication at least a week before the election. Board members discussed an approximate election administration cost of about $20,000 and the August 12 administrative cutoff for certain actions.

The board concluded the meeting by approving the listed budget and resolutions and adjourning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NPAS School Board Meeting, June 23rd, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a preliminary FY26 budget and voted to call a special election on Nov. 4, 2025 for a referendum (proposal described as $510 per pupil / about $2 million per year for 10 years). The board also approved a 10‑year facilities plan, committed severance funds, and transferred a small amount to the nutrition fund.","taxTitle","NEW PRAGUE AREA SCHOOLS, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",57134,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6553476,"New Prague spotlights early intervention services and a student peer‑mentoring pilot",1090,71000,1161000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067535-fcf5392fb018ffe77c28c718f0b27584&start=71&end=1161","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067535-fcf5392fb018ffe77c28c718f0b27584/thumbnail_71000.jpg","/articles/6553476/Minnesota/New-Prague-spotlights-early-intervention-services-and-a-student-peermentoring-pilot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553476-82501de09ccbb83a443fda17439e66d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775095450&Signature=RDbEPbYctuTXG1ANO3a6F9Du6VO1jnlDzHN9auy024oPu6CVPOKPZmlNlgJzklh-5p1OzEcBcdo0iWfSFIUUJmafmL6KbXDOPy7kIHeO2X2ndqiFRZ81j4~k6xgAeUPi3-RZUFTOgg~~LkLCg6XazSSfNInV6cHj4ZUmYFkMzZBRuGqBEcBdMcAdu7GE4kd4ma~uFnZW1ZmgIjhtOZ8RANPmhELCFvmvi~tCf5b~18NoYeFL0gV2HF7MOaOaNNujvwp5h039Rda8C7OW6j9Vb-8BS7Kx2XjM8zVVe4jD1flEg0qo3SRH1laEwn-LbjvKz70s-oHA1~1a3lCNybanLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Prague Area Schools board on June 23 heard presentations from special services staff about the district's early intervention program for birth‑to‑3 children and a new peer‑mentoring pilot that pairs high‑school mentors with younger students on the autism spectrum.

The district's director of special services, Amy Walzberger, introduced the program and two early childhood special education teachers, Jody Griskavage and Megan Schultz, who described how families are referred and how services are delivered.

Walzberger said the team supports infants and toddlers and their families across the district. \"We work with families and kiddos that are aged birth to 3,\" Jody Griskavage said. \"We work with them in their natural environments,\" she told the board, and explained referrals come from parents, doctors or other caregivers through Minnesota's Help Me Grow portal or by calling a district intake number.

The teachers said each child undergoes an evaluation focused on multiple areas of development; services are provided year‑round, typically two to three home or community visits a month aimed at building family routines and caregiver skills. \"We really focus on whatever that routine is for the family because we know that's what the parents are going to be doing with their kiddos,\" Megan Schultz said. The team includes three early childhood special educators, a speech‑language pathologist, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist and an intake coordinator, the presenters said.

School staff also described a pilot peer‑mentoring program that paired four high‑school students with seven elementary students from Falcon Ridge and nearby schools. Amanda Dirks, the high school autism case manager, and Samantha Klein, an elementary special education teacher, explained the mentors met weekly for about 40 minutes and used structured activities and resources adapted from a teen mentoring handbook and other peer‑mentoring guides.

Student participants spoke to the board about the program's effect. \"To me, the mentoring program felt like connecting with kids who have felt alone for most of their life,\" said Lorelei Hammer, a 2025 graduate who said the experience helped prepare her for a preschool teaching job she accepted after graduation. Logan Bermel, an incoming 11th‑grader, told the board the program helped younger students who did not have older peers with similar experiences to look up to.

Presenters and students showed photos and described activities including social communication exercises, a gingerbread‑house day, a mobile snack cart and community outings. Dirks said staff selected students they viewed as leaders for the pilot and used lesson‑book activities and local adaptations to support social and life skills.

Board members praised the programs. No formal action was required on the presentations.","District special services staff described the birth‑to‑3 early intervention program and a new peer‑mentoring pilot pairing high‑school mentors with elementary students on the autism spectrum.","actionData","errors"]

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New Prague board votes to place operating referendum question on Nov. 4 ballot; approves FY26 budget and several resolutions

New Prague spotlights early intervention services and a student peer‑mentoring pilot