Our Need
ISD 31 students need our community to vote on an operating referendum allowing the district to receive an additional $1.5 million every year over the next ten years. This funding will allow the district to support, sustain, maintain, and invest in the many excellent programs, classes, and activities our students have enjoyed for years.
Class Sizes
The additional funds we will receive through a successful operating referendum will ensure the district can provide class sizes that maximize student learning. The additional funding will also support the continued operation of existing neighborhood elementary schools, which is a direct benefit to many students and their families.
Student Support Services
In the aftermath of the pandemic, teachers and administrators are seeing the greatest needs for student support services. Now, more than ever, students need the support of counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals. A successful referendum will allow the school district to keep these important services for our students.
Activities
Bemidji Area School students enjoy numerous activities that help develop leadership and team building skills. These activities also help students feel connected to school and to a team spirit that promotes collaboration and cooperation, which are important for our ever changing world. A successful referendum would help to ensure that these opportunities continue to be available to our students.
Busing
The cost of providing transportation exceeds state funding by $750k per year on average due to the geographical size of our district. This loss directly impacts our bottom line. Funds from a successful referendum will be used to offset these costs and keep education dollars in the classroom, where they belong.
Unfunded Mandates
The state of Minnesota is constitutionally mandated to provide for a uniform system of public schools throughout the state. However, the state is not required to fully fund all of the educational mandates it requires of school districts. As a result, over the past 20 years, the state of Minnesota has not kept up with inflation. As a result, school districts throughout the state have made millions of dollars in budgetary cuts over the years.
