Little Falls district weighs school closure and staff cuts as enrollment shrinks

Superintendent Greg Johnson told the Little Falls Board of Education on April 14 that the district is facing sustained enrollment decline, rising costs and a widening budget gap and is exploring options that include staff reductions and the possible closure of Doctor Knight Elementary.

Johnson said the district is “in the idea stage” and emphasized that no decisions have been made. He described statewide birth-rate trends and local enrollment projections as part of the case for examining long-term structural changes to district operations.

The district cited a steady enrollment decline over the past two decades and presented a scenario showing potential payroll savings if Doctor Knight were closed. The presentation listed estimated annual savings (salary and benefits) including $432,000 for roughly four to five teaching positions, $172,000 for a principal position, $105,000 for an interventionist, $152,000 for five paraprofessionals (including a media paraprofessional), and $278,000 for two custodians, two cooks and a secretary — a total “just over $1,100,000,” the superintendent’s slides said. The district cautioned those figures do not account for any lost state aid tied to declines in student enrollment.

Johnson described next steps the board authorized to gather public input. The district will conduct a community survey the week following the meeting; the survey is roughly 70 questions and is expected to take 15–20 minutes. The district hired an outside firm to conduct the survey and will have that firm present results in person at the board’s May 12 meeting. The board also scheduled a public listening session for April 30 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium to collect community feedback.

Board members and public commenters raised questions about boundary rules, open enrollment and whether families might move students to neighboring districts if schools are consolidated. Sharon, a board member, expressed skepticism about current boundary rules and said some families who oppose changes are not sending their own children to affected schools. Other board members warned that losing students to other districts would compound budget pressures: “If this goes forward ... they will also be pulling both the middle school and the high school students. And that’s a lot of money out of our budget,” one board member said during debate.

Johnson also listed positions that would be required if Doctor Knight remains open for 2025–26, including two teachers at Doctor Knight, an interventionist for reading and math at Doctor Knight, a transition teacher at the high school, and building-level support positions such as a head custodian and a head cook.

The superintendent noted additional budgetary pressures: a worsening state budget forecast, proposed state cuts affecting special education and transportation, possible changes to district unemployment insurance obligations and an 18% increase in health insurance rates. He said those factors have increased the urgency of the financial review.

Board members repeated that the district is seeking community input before making binding decisions. Johnson closed the segment by reiterating that the district is in an exploratory phase and that the survey and listening session are intended to inform — not decide — the board’s next steps.

The board did not vote on any consolidation at the April 14 meeting. The district plans to present survey results on May 12 and indicated further public engagement before any final action.