Chisago Lakes board approves community-education rate increases, ends charter-authorizer role; students raise bathroom-access concerns

The Chisago Lakes School District Board of Education on Wednesday approved a package of routine and substantive actions including a 2% increase to some community-education fees, accepted multiple donations, and voted to end the district's role as a charter school authorizer while hearing student representatives report on extracurricular activities and problems with bathroom access.

Director of business services Robert reported enrollment and budget trends to the board. "PCR enrollment is going down again...we're at 32 19, I believe, right now," Robert said, and told the board that the DBS monthly report shows general fund revenues and expenditures "in line with the other years" and that he is preparing a revised budget for the current year to bring back to the board.

The report matters because it frames near-term budget choices. Superintendent Brad Deetz said the district is "seeing a lot of cuts that are gonna come down the road for districts across the state" and that local advocacy is ongoing with lawmakers.

Student representatives provided updates on school events, activities and competitions and called attention to a recurring student concern about limited bathroom access. Gabe, a student…