Farmington board approves initial 2025–26 budget realignment, including program reductions and fee increases

The Farmington School Board on a voice vote approved an initial set of budget reductions and revenue increases aimed at closing a projected shortfall in the 2025–26 budget. The board’s action includes recommended program reductions (including ending the district’s current partnership for the health-care pathway known as MCAPS/MedCAPS with Prior Lake for certain years, suspending some outside tuition-paid CTE offerings, and cutting cosmetology tuition placements), a proposal to move middle schools from a block schedule to a six-period day, and a package of fee increases for activities and athletics.

The vote came after prolonged public comment and an extended presentation by district staff outlining the recommendations and projected savings. Board member Storley made the motion to approve the initial recommendations; Chair Christiansen seconded it, and the motion passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

District officials said the reductions and revenue measures together represent about $2.1 million of the roughly $4.4 million the administration had been working to realign; the board and finance committee will continue work on additional changes in February. Superintendent and finance staff emphasized that the initial package is a first phase of a larger realignment effort.

Why the board acted now

District leaders said timing was driven in part by registration timelines and the desire to give staff and families information sooner rather than later. The administration also said it is actively pursuing replacement options for some programs recommended for reduction, but those efforts were not complete at the time of the vote.

Key elements described by the administration

- Proposed program reductions: cessation of the district’s current MCAPS/MedCAPS partnership placement in certain years while pursuing locally hosted alternatives; reductions to some off-site CTE (career and technical education) tuition arrangements; and discontinuation of cosmetology placements through an outside vendor. District staff told the board these programs require ongoing tuition payments to outside providers and that operating locally could be an alternative but would carry one-time startup costs.

- Middle-school schedule change: convert from an 80-minute block schedule to a six-period day with approximately 50–55 minute instructional periods, retain advisory time, and adjust exploratory offerings into trimester formats. Administration said the change is intended to maintain overall instructional minutes while reducing staff time embedded in the current block structure.

- Revenue adjustments: increases to select activity and athletic fees (the board was informed the athletics/activity fee adjustment is roughly $100 on top of current fees, bringing some fees close to comparators), and an expansion of the district pay-for-ride option for families in walking zones that choose bus seats if available.

Board discussion and next steps

Board members and administration repeatedly stressed this is phase one and that additional changes and details will be developed by the finance committee and returned to the full board for further decisions in February. Administrators said they will continue work to identify local or partner solutions to maintain student pathways where feasible and to provide more detail on implementation timelines.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of the agenda: Motion by Gorman, second by Johnson; voice vote, approved. - Consent agenda approval: Motion by Gorman, second by De Wilde; voice vote, approved. - Acknowledgment/acceptance of informational items (including community education report): Motion by Johnson, second by Gorman; voice vote, approved. - Adoption of policies 713 (student activity accounting), 714 (fund balances), 722 (public data request): Motion by DeWitt, second by Johnson; voice vote, approved. - Approval of initial recommended 2025–26 budget reductions and revenue increases: Motion by Storley, second by Christiansen; voice vote, approved. - Motion to move to closed session: Motion by Sorrelli, second by Gorman; voice vote, approved.

Implementation and communications

Administrators said further public meetings and work sessions are planned, including a community budget listening session Feb. 5 and board work session and listening session on Feb. 10. The finance committee will present a follow-up package of options in mid-to-late February, district staff said.

Ending

Board members repeatedly invited continued public feedback and urged stakeholders to engage with the legislative process and potential future revenue proposals, saying district-level realignment alone may not resolve longer-term funding pressures.