Board approves 2025–26 meal prices and receives preliminary balanced budget

The Northland Pines School District board approved revised school meal prices for the 2025–26 school year and reviewed a proposed preliminary budget staff described as balanced.

The board approved the following meal prices as presented: elementary breakfast $1.60 and elementary lunch $3.40; middle and high school breakfast $1.85 and lunch $3.50; snack milk $0.50; reduced-price breakfast offered free and reduced lunch $0.40; adult breakfast $2.90 and adult lunch $4.35. Chair (speaker 1) moved the meal-price measure and a voice vote recorded 'Aye' with the chair saying "The motion carries."

District staff then presented the proposed preliminary budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and explained the timing: the fiscal year begins July 1, final budget adoption occurs in October after the state budget and the district’s September enrollment (3rd Friday) are finalized, and the mill rate will be set as an outcome when property valuations are available. Staff emphasized that the provided document is a draft meant to give the board and public visibility of assumptions and that the district intends to remain conservative given statewide budget uncertainty.

Staff noted potential state-level changes (joint finance committee actions) could affect special-education funding and other lines; until the state acts, the district is planning from current baseline assumptions. The chair moved to approve the preliminary budget; the transcript records the motion and a second, but a final vote is not recorded in the excerpt provided.

Next steps: staff will monitor state budget developments and return with updated documents; the board will consider the final budget in October when enrollment and state aid are known.