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 math, 1.0 FTE English, 1.0 FTE social studies and shifting 1.0 FTE special‑education), reductions at Bemidji Middle School (1.0 FTE English, 1.0 FTE social studies, 1.0 FTE dean of students/activities coordinator), elementary reductions (1.0 FTE at Horace May, 1.0 FTE at Solway, 2.0 FTE at Jean Dillon, 1.0 FTE elementary/alternative programs principal) and a net reduction of approximately 1.64 FTE of media specialist time. Administration said nonlicensed reductions being implemented would yield about $338,366. - Administration presented a projected savings figure of $1,422,314 tied to the licensed recommendations; combined with other changes the administration said the proposal reached slightly above the board's $1.5 million target. - During deliberations a board member moved to remove the Solway Elementary 1.0 FTE reduction (article 1, subdivision c, number 2) from the package and to remove Catherine Brandt from the list of probationary nonrenewals. The board approved that amendment by roll call. - The board subsequently approved, by roll call vote, the amended resolution discontinuing and reducing the listed licensed positions as required by state statute. Roll call recorded the motion as carried (all board members voting yes). - The board approved a separate resolution increasing special‑education FTE at Bemidji Middle School/Jean Dillon as the administration had proposed to reallocate the special‑education position. - The board approved a resolution directing the chair to sign notifications of nonrenewal/termination for the probationary or limited‑license teachers named in the packet (with Catherine Brandt removed per the amendment). - The board approved a resolution placing Shirley Lipsey and Andrew Vaughn on unrequested leave of absence and directed administration to deliver the required notices. - The board accepted donations as outlined on the consent agenda, including $3,500 for the BHS debate team; the superintendent said donations would cover one year of debate costs and the board signaled support to continue the program for at least one year.

Public comment and board discussion Public commenters included teachers and students who tied cuts to classroom impacts. Jade Dockendorf, an English teacher at Bemidji High School, asked board members to "review [student feedback] — our kids are speaking very loudly" and described interventions for incoming ninth graders that she said would be harmed by the proposed reductions. Sophomores and juniors from the high‑school debate team described competitive successes and argued the program develops leadership, civic knowledge and reduces social anxiety among participants; student speaker Ella Thorsen said, "Debate is civics in action" and urged the board to preserve it.

Library media specialists provided data and local proficiency numbers: Shirley Lipsey said reading proficiency at Jean Dillon Elementary is "currently 52%" and at Bemidji Middle School "currently 49%," urging the board to keep media specialists in schools so staff can maintain the student connections that support literacy. Erin Curran, Bemidji High School library media specialist, detailed the years of staffing reductions in district libraries and called library media specialists "not a luxury" but "a necessity."

Board members repeatedly described the decisions as difficult but necessary to maintain fiscal health. Several members said they favored keeping the debate program in operation for at least the coming year because donor funds exist to cover that cost and the program is low cost relative to its benefits.

Votes and outcomes - Motion to approve amended licensed staffing reductions and related resolutions: approved, roll call (yes: Haugen; Frenzel; Manakee/Manneke; Akas; Longboatner; Wall). - Motion to remove Solway 1.0 FTE reduction and to remove Catherine Brandt from the probationary nonrenewal list (amendment): approved, roll call yes. - Motion to increase special‑education FTE at Bemidji Middle School/Jean Dillon (to reallocate the special‑education position): approved, roll call yes. - Resolution to send nonrenewal/termination notices to probationary/limited‑license staff (with Catherine Brandt removed): approved, roll call yes. - Resolution to place Shirley Lipsey and Andrew Vaughn on unrequested leave of absence: approved, roll call yes. - Donation acceptance (consent agenda): approved, roll call yes.

Why it matters Board members and administration presented the reductions as a response to a multi‑year structural deficit and to slower state aid growth relative to inflation. Administration said the district has been in deficit position since 2019 (after excluding one‑time COVID funding) and must budget under current law, which has driven the need for reductions. Public commenters warned that cuts to English, library media and extracurriculars such as debate would harm student learning, literacy and opportunities for civic engagement.

What’s next The board directed administration to implement the approved reductions and deliver statutorily required notices. Board members and the superintendent said they will continue to explore revenue options and review the budget situation next January.

Ending note Board members thanked staff, teachers and students for participation. Several members reiterated the difficulty of the choices and expressed intent to pursue revenue strategies and community engagement in coming months.