School board adopts preliminary 2025–26 budget, approves GCED levy, EDIM access and two calendar updates

The Red Wing Public School District school board voted unanimously to adopt the district’s preliminary budget for fiscal year 2025–26, approved a $100,000 long‑term facilities levy for the Goodhue County Education District (GCED), reauthorized district access to secure Minnesota Department of Education systems for the superintendent, and approved two school‑calendar adjustments for 2025–26 and 2026–27.

Board members approved a preliminary budget that projects total district revenues of about $47.44 million and total expenditures of about $48.00 million across all funds, producing a net drawdown of fund balances of roughly $0.9 million across the district. The general fund projection showed $39,000,006.81 in revenue and $40,000,001.53 in expenditures, a projected draw of about $468,010 from the general fund. Lisa Ryder, a district staff member presenting the budget slides, told the board the projection restores a few positions and keeps the projected use of fund balance “less than a million dollars.”

The board also approved a GCED long‑term facility maintenance levy resolution that would generate $100,000 in revenue for GCED, with member districts assessed according to student enrollment. The district’s share was described in the packet as roughly one‑third of the total — about $32,000 — and the board approved the resolution by motion. During discussion, board members confirmed the $100,000 figure has been in place for multiple years and that the levy funds are restricted to long‑term facility maintenance needs for GCED.

Separately, the board passed a resolution designating district authority to access restricted sections of the Minnesota Department of Education (EDIM). The motion named Superintendent Bob Joshick as the official with authority to grant access; board members then authorized Joshick to designate additional staff as needed. The resolution is an annual housekeeping measure the board said is required to maintain access to MDE systems.

The board approved two calendar changes. For the 2025–26 school year the board moved a scheduled professional development day and parent‑teacher conferences from November onto an October date to avoid the election day conflict on Nov. 4. For 2026–27 the board authorized an earlier start date (Sept. 1) for the first day of school under recently changed state law that allows districts to begin before Labor Day; the adjustment adds three instructional days that year and preserves a June 3 last day of school and June 4 graduation date.

Motions were carried by roll call or voice vote as recorded in the meeting. The actions approved at the meeting were presented as part of the consent and action agenda items; board members discussed fund balances, investment options and the composition of several advisory committees during the meeting’s administrative reports and committee updates.

No bond authorizations, new taxes beyond the GCED levy, or changes to employee compensation were taken at this meeting. The board scheduled a retreat and noted its next regular meeting dates as set in the packet.