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Chisholm board approves consent agenda, revised FY26 budget and resolution opposing proposed special‑education cuts
Summary
The Chisholm Public School District board approved a consent agenda that included payroll, grants and sponsorships, adopted a revised FY26 budget showing a deficit, and passed a resolution directing outreach to legislators to oppose state special‑education funding cuts that would reduce the district’s allocation by about $100,000.
The Chisholm Public School District board on April 13 approved a consent agenda covering payroll, accounts payable, several grants and sponsorships, and agreed to a revised fiscal‑year 2026 budget while voting to ask legislators to repeal language that could force statewide special‑education cuts.
The consent agenda included March minutes and payroll of $716,622.78 and accounts‑payable totaling $1,552,407.99. The board accepted a $5,000 Central Mesabi Medical Foundation grant to support Chisholm High School’s CNA program and a $10,000 True North Perkins Consortium grant for CTE equipment. The board also approved sponsorship agreements for a new scoreboard with Jennifer Ivancich Insurance ($2,500 annually, five years), Northern Wireless ($1,000 annually, five years) and Wittseth ($1,000 for one year).
Superintendent Perkovich told the board that a 2025 state law includes a mechanism that would require $250 million in reductions to special‑education spending statewide; locally that works out to roughly $100,000 less for Chisholm. “For us, what does that mean? It works out to be about 10% for every school district. So for us, that means we get about $100,000 less,” Perkovich said.
Directors voted to adopt a revised FY26 budget, which administrators said still shows a deficit for the year but represents roughly a $60,000 improvement over the original adopted budget. Business manager Mr. Kezar explained several fund pressures: a one‑time $135,000 food‑service equipment purchase tied to the new building; transportation fleet costs; and anticipated OPEB (retiree health) payouts that exceed interest earnings on the trust.
The board also approved resolutions accepting donations (including instrument and cash gifts for athletics and prom), a resolution to clear and sell certain surplus property (including a 2012 GMC 1500 truck), and a memorandum of understanding with AFSCME Council 65 Local 536 to include specified employees in the union contract. Roll calls recorded unanimous approval of the resolutions presented by roll call in those instances.
Board Chair Casey adjourned the meeting after votes carried on the listed items. The district indicated it would follow up with legislators about the special‑education language and provide additional financial details to the board at a later date.
