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Superintendent outlines Permanent School Fund amendment, facilities projects and tree removals
Summary
Superintendent Andy Trejo briefed the board on a constitutional amendment that would allow 4.5% annual distributions from the Minnesota Permanent School Fund, explained it will appear on the November ballot, and provided updates on website changes, CER office relocation, tennis court curing, roofing repairs and a planned removal of about 40 ash trees with a two-for-one replanting commitment.
Superintendent Andy Trejo told the Fairmont Area School District board that a proposed constitutional amendment would change how the Minnesota Permanent School Fund distributes money to schools, allowing annual distributions equal to 4.5% of the fund’s three-year rolling market average rather than relying primarily on interest and dividends.
“This amendment … does not raise property taxes, income taxes, or sales taxes,” Trеjo said, describing the measure that will appear on the November ballot and urging the board to provide accurate information to constituents. He said staff will provide presentation templates and additional materials to help the district inform voters.
Trеjo gave a series of facilities and operational updates: the district launched a website refresh with vendor Apogee (fairmontdayk12.mn.us) to improve enrollment and information access; Community Education & Recreation will move back into the district building August 3–6 in time for back-to-school registration August 10; newly blacktopped tennis courts are being held out of use while the surface cures for roughly 30 days before striping and fencing work continues; roofing repairs at elementary sites are scheduled to begin the following Monday; and the district plans to remove “upwards of 40 plus” Ash trees affected by emerald ash borer over late summer and fall while replanting a minimum of two trees for every tree removed.
The superintendent framed the amendment as a funding-stability measure intended to increase predictability for district budgeting and argued that the change would continue to honor the fund’s original purpose to support public education. Board members asked clarifying questions about timelines, contractual procedures for projects, and substitute and staff compensation levels referenced elsewhere in the meeting materials.
