The Prior Lake‑Savage Area Schools (ISD 719) Board of Education on Jan. 13 approved a resolution directing administration to begin recommending program and position reductions for the 2025‑26 budget year and carried multiple routine motions including acceptance of gifts, personnel items and a staffing request.

The resolution directing the superintendent and administration to consider discontinuance or curtailment of programs and positions passed on a roll call vote of 7‑0. Board members asked whether moving the annual procedural resolution earlier in the calendar would change timelines; administration said the motion starts the process for next fiscal year (2025‑26) and is intended to provide more time for discussion.

The board also approved standard consent business — minutes, personnel items, monthly financial report and purchase orders above $25,000 — and accepted a gifts resolution that listed several donations: $16,850 for furniture at Glendale Elementary (donor: Sean Graywick); $13,000 for two years of the Minnesota Cyber Summit (donor: Mary France); $3,000 (one half of a board stipend) and $6,000 (board stipend) from Mary France and Jessica Olstead, respectively. The gifts resolution required and received a roll call and carried 7‑0.

An additional staffing request from the Community Services Fund (Fund 04) to add 0.8 FTE to support Kids Co participants with IEPs or 504 plans — budgeted at $70,050 per year in the memo — was approved 7‑0 after a motion by Director Bullion and a second by Director Frantz.

The board accepted the districtpay equity report, required every three years, on a motion by Director Johnson and a second by Director Olstad; that motion carried 7‑0.

Votes at a glance
- Approve agenda: unanimous voice vote (7‑0).
- Approve consent agenda (minutes, financials, personnel): unanimous voice vote (7‑0).
- Accept gifts as read (see list above): roll call vote, 7‑0.
- Add 0.8 FTE (Community Services Fund) at ~ $70,050/year: mover Director Bullion; second Director Frantz; outcome: approved, 7‑0.
- Accept 2024 Pay Equity Report: mover Director Johnson; second Director Olstad; outcome: approved, 7‑0.
- Approve annual procedural resolution directing administration to develop reduction recommendations for 2025‑26: mover Director Frantz; second Director Atkinson; outcome: approved, roll call 7‑0.

The motions were largely procedural; several board members asked for clarification about timing and whether the resolution would affect current‑year budgets. Administration said any specific staffing recommendations would come later and this motion only starts the procedural review.

Next steps include staff developing reduction recommendations (if any) and presenting more detailed budget material at upcoming study sessions and a finance town hall scheduled for Jan. 29.