Sartell‑St. Stephen board approves revised 2024–25 budget and authorizes staffing reductions

The Sartell‑St. Stephen School Board on its April regular meeting approved a revised 2024–25 budget and authorized staffing adjustments, including reductions totaling about 7.8 full‑time equivalent positions districtwide.

District administrators told the board they expect a 4.3 FTE reduction at the elementary level and about 3.5 FTE at the secondary level after reviewing enrollment projections, class section counts and program needs. The board voted to approve a revised budget that shows a projected general‑fund deficit for the year of roughly $434,000 and a planned decrease in the district’s unassigned fund balance of about $328,000, bringing that balance to approximately 13% of expenditures as of June 30, 2025.

Why it matters: the staffing changes and budget revision reflect lower sections in elementary grades and shifts in secondary course offerings tied to registration and student choice. Administrators said many of the elementary reductions will be covered through retirements and one resignation, rather than nonrenewals, and that secondary reductions required careful licensure and program balancing.

Administrators outlined the process used to set staffing and budget recommendations. They said they examined cohort trends by grade, applied class‑size ranges and met individually with principals to align staff to projected enrollment. "We spent about two months working with principals" on registration and staffing, a staff member said, describing multiple reviews before presenting recommendations to the board.

The revised budget includes several line‑item updates: a modest increase in state special education revenue tied to prior‑year spending, an increase in substitute‑teacher costs (around $85,000) driven by higher absence rates and some long‑term leaves, and higher activity and athletics expenditures linked to greater participation and associated costs. Administrators also reported an operating capital increase to replace three lawn tractors and to add a golf simulator funded in part by donations.

Food service and other funds: the district projects a smaller deficit than originally budgeted in food service ($67,000 on the revised budget) and said it will continue to monitor food‑service equipment replacements in light of legislative discussions about allowable uses of food‑service funds.

Board action and context: the board approved the revised budget by voice vote after committee review. Board members and administrators repeatedly emphasized the difficulty of the decisions. "This is hard," a board member said, adding that they appreciated the administration’s transparency and the length of the staffing review. Several members encouraged community advocacy with state legislators, citing recent changes to education funding that administrators said have pressured local budgets.

Votes at a glance (from this meeting): • Consent agenda — approved (voice vote). • Resolution accepting donations (multiple donors listed in meeting packet) — approved (voice vote). • Resolution ratifying nonrenewals of employment (administration’s personnel actions as presented) — approved (voice vote). • Revised 2024–25 budget — approved (voice vote). • Other routine policy items and first readings — approved or moved forward as noted on the agenda.

What’s next: administrators said they will continue preparing the fiscal 2025–26 preliminary budget while monitoring the state legislative process for changes to state aid formulas, and they expect to present a preliminary budget in June. Staffing reallocations and any formal personnel notices will follow the district’s personnel process and applicable labor agreements.