Bemidji school board approves preliminary budget, personnel hires and multiple policy first readings

The Bemidji Public School District Board of Education on June 16 unanimously approved a set of routine and substantive actions, including adoption of a preliminary FY2026 operating budget, designation of an official for state reporting, acceptance of donations and first readings of multiple policy updates.

The board adopted a preliminary operating budget for fiscal year 2026 that projects districtwide revenues of about $89 million and expenditures of about $91 million, producing a preliminary total-year deficit. The district’s operational (unrestricted) general fund figures in the board packet show estimated operational revenues of $65.3 million, operational expenses of $66.2 million and transfers of $1.0 million, a roughly $1.9 million operational deficit. The district’s estimated ending general fund balance was presented at about $8.4 million, yielding a projected fund-balance percentage of 12.7% (board policy minimum: 10%). Superintendent Jeremy Olsen and finance staff noted the budget is preliminary and may change after final FY2025 actuals and a post‑session review of legislative actions.

The board also approved the designation of Superintendent Jeremy Olsen as the district’s identified official for Minnesota Department of Education external user access recertification, accepted a $500 donation from Tracy Shelgren to Bemidji Middle School in memory of Travis Sackman, and unanimously approved Christine Christiansen’s hire as principal of Horace May Elementary, effective July 1, 2025.

Finance staff presented and the board approved…