Despite millions in federal pandemic relief funding most local school districts may still need to make budget cuts in coming years. In Faribault, the School Board cut the district’s spending by $4.5 million in the span of three years. Northfield was forced to reduce its budget by around $7 million in just two years. The future of other districts, like Owatonna and Waseca, remain uncertain, after some Republican state legislators rejected a $1 billion budget for education funding.
MEANWHILE…
The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party took full control of state government to enact a massive legislative agenda with sweeping implications, not just for schools, but for all Minnesotans. In total, the $2.2 billion investment in education represents a roughly 10% increase to the state’s education budget. Small school districts will benefit from new funding, too, but many still face enrollment declines.
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