Bemidji board approves licensed-staff reductions, removes Solway cut and preserves debate program for one year

The Bemidji Public School District school board on May 19 approved a set of licensed‑staff reductions intended to move the district toward a $1.5 million budget reduction target, and amended that action to remove one proposed Solway Elementary teacher cut and the nonrenewal of one probationary teacher. At the meeting the board also accepted donations that the superintendent said would cover one year of the Bemidji High School debate program, and approved notices that place two staff members on unrequested leave of absence.

Board members said the measures were driven by a structural budget deficit in the district. Superintendent Olsen told the board that, after removing one‑time COVID dollars, the district has operated with a structural deficit since 2019 and must plan under current law. Olsen said state aid has not kept pace with inflation, leaving an 18.7% gap between what the district receives in formula aid and what an inflation‑adjusted amount would have been.

The board approved the package after an extended public participation period during which teachers, parents, students and library staff urged the board to preserve positions. Bemidji High School English teacher Jade Dockendorf told the board that proposed cuts to the high school English department would force the department to "eliminate 16 sections" and asked, "Where will the kids go?" Multiple students and parents urged the board not to cut the debate program, and several library media specialists described literacy and student connections that they said would be harmed by further reductions.

What the board voted on - Licensed staffing adjustments presented by administration included proposed reductions and one reallocation: administration recommended eliminating several licensed positions at the high school (1.0 FTE…