Superintendent presents two options to fix budget shortfall, recommends consolidation to one site

Superintendent Beth Geese told the board she had compiled questions submitted by the public and school staff and that the meetingwould focus on financial projections to guide the boarddecision. "I cannot tax our way out of this," Geese said, explaining why consolidation is among the district's strongest options.

Geese described two formal options. "Option 1" would close Wanamingo in fall 2025 and consolidate students and many staff into a single K12 site; Geese said the move would automatically reduce transportation and utility costs, cut administrative overhead and reduce insurance and maintenance outlays. She listed concrete savings areas: transportation routes and shuttle reductions, lawn and snow removal, fewer staff trips between buildings and lower insurance costs. Geese told the board that, even after rightsizing, long-term enrollment declines will still place pressure on revenue but said consolidation is the option most likely to improve the fund balance.

"If we move Wanna Mingo over, we would still have the utilities," Geese added while describing the trade-offs of keeping the building in a limited role. That "Option 2" would preserve Wanamingo as an early-childhood and community-education hub and seek grants and partnerships (including Goodhue County grant opportunities) and rental uses to buy time while the district assesses enrollment. Geese warned day care could not be stood up the same year as consolidation and that the district would need at least a year to pursue daycare and other revenue options.

The superintendent and finance staff stressed that neither option is cost-free: consolidation triggers FTE reductions and rightsizing, and preserving Wanamingo maintains some ongoing costs. The board will consider these trade-offs at future meetings and a town-hall scheduled for Jan. 6, 2025, where the superintendent said she would provide additional modeled scenarios requested by residents.