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- Written by: Jeff Drake
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Now that the dust has settled a bit, this column will begin to address the recently failed school bond and next steps for our school and community.
The district was very intentional in its efforts to provide the public with information about a new 3rd-5th grade elementary school bond request. This included direct mailings, newspaper articles, social media posts and public presentations both in person and virtual. Our goal was to ensure that people would have the information necessary to make a thoughtful, well-reasoned decision. While we are disappointed in the election results, we are very appreciative of community members who took the time to consider the needs of our students, who sought information, and made an informed choice.
Since the failed new 3rd-5th grade elementary school bond election in November, a number of people have approached me and have asked, “What’s next?” The answer to that question will be determined in the coming months. Our new school board, administration, staff, along with our community need time to reflect, analyze, and come to consensus on what to do concerning our facilities.
Needs Remain
What remains the same are challenges brought about by aging infrastructure that no longer align with modern teaching and learning environments. We will continue to keep up with routine maintenance of Adams and McKinley schools as our budget allows. However, any major renovations to Adams and McKinley would require bond passage by voters, and the blessing of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), potentially spending millions of dollars on two 85 year-old buildings on undersized lots.
The cost to address long-term maintenance such as replacing roofs, windows, doors and other items that are beyond their useful life is $16 million. Due to the age of the buildings, it is quite possible that MDE would not approve the bonding request. Meanwhile, maintenance to other district buildings will suffer as limited maintenance dollars are spent addressing some of the issues prevalent in Adams and McKinley.
Next Steps
We face challenging decisions that will affect all aspects of the district. After our two new board members are seated in January, our school board will work on the next steps, which will include careful evaluation of the community’s decision in the election and developing a plan to address the needs of our aging schools that the community can support.
Throughout this discernment process, we will keep the community informed and engaged. Your input during this process is both valued and necessary. We look to you to help guide our decisions. We believe there is common ground in supporting the needs of our children.
For More Information
Visit fergusotters.org for more information about Fergus Falls Public Schools.
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- Written by: Jesse Thorstad
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Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. What do you have to be thankful for?
I find myself increasingly grateful for my education and for the work done in public education. It may be easy for most of us to take education for granted, but I’m not far removed from a time when an education was far from assured.
Neither of my grandfathers graduated from high school. Grandpa Raymond’s formal education ended after sixth grade. As the story goes, a social worker visited the family farm and said, “Charlie, those boys need to be in school.” Without missing a beat, Charlie simply replied, “I need those boys to work the farm.” And that was that. Grandpa Drake went through eighth grade. Although his father was a very hard worker, his life would be marked by a series of hardships beyond his control. My grandpa’s older brother Leroy died at the age of six from smallpox. Because of the disease, no one would purchase products from the family’s creamery and the business went under. My grandpa was out selling newspapers and taking on other odd jobs at an early age to help support the family. He wore cardboard in his shoes while standing in soup lines during the Great Depression.
Although I have certainly experienced times when things were tight financially, I have never worried about having food on the table or a decent pair of shoes on my feet. I’ve been blessed.
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- Written by: Jeff Drake
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As I write this column, we have come to the end of National Education Week. National Education Week is an annual event dedicated to celebrating the vital role of public education in our society. It honors the hard work and dedication of teachers, administrators, and support staff who prepare students for present and future success every day. By highlighting the accomplishments of public schools and fostering community engagement, National Education Week seeks to secure public support for education and inspire students to reach their full potential.
I want to recognize the incredible work of our educators and students at the Fergus Falls Public Schools. Over the past twelve months, I have written about the district’s need for modern facilities. While facilities are important tools for our work, nothing is more important or more impactful than our staff. This was true yesterday, remains true today and will be true tomorrow. Our dedicated staff go above and beyond to provide a well-rounded education, preparing our students for success in college, career, and life. For our students, there are many staff members who will be remembered forever for their positive impact.
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- Written by: Jeff Drake
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Minnesota School Districts are subject to a number of requirements that ensure transparency to the public. One of these requirements is an annual audit. The district has contracted with Eide Bailly for several years to review our financial records and prepare our financial audit. Eide Bailly is a certified accounting and business consulting firm that was founded in 1917. I think it is fair to say that they are well-versed and experienced in Minnesota school finance.
I have mentioned before that Minnesota school finance is complicated. Our annual levy report contains nearly forty pages of formulas and computations. What drives our revenue?
Public schools receive a relatively modest amount of federal dollars. In fiscal year 2024 (FY24) total general fund revenue was just over forty-two million dollars. Of that, federal dollars accounted for only slightly more than one million. The vast majority of our revenue comes from the state and is driven by formulas that are set by the legislature. Most districts also generate additional operating revenue through the passage of voter-approved operating levies; although, Fergus Falls does not have an operating levy in place. The two most significant drivers of revenue are the state per pupil general education formula and district enrollment.
Within the district’s annual budget, there are several categories. These categories consist of what is known as the general fund, the capital projects fund, the food service fund, the community service fund and the debt service fund.
Districts most often refer to the “General Fund” when referencing its budget. Elementary and secondary schools receive the bulk of their general operating funds from the state through the general education revenue program. General education revenue is provided mainly through state aid payments, but within the general education program, there are equalized levies for operating capital, equity revenue, and transition revenue. Minnesota’s school districts and charter schools use general education revenue to pay for the operating expenses of the district including employee salaries, employee benefits, and supply costs. It also includes pupil transportation activities of the district as well as the capital related activities such as maintenance of facilities, equipment purchases and health and safety projects. The district’s Student Activity Funds are under school board control and are also reported in the general fund.
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- Written by: Jeff Drake
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How do you measure the quality of an educational system?
From the National Center for Education Statistics: “The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international assessment that measures 15-year-old students' reading, mathematics, and science literacy. The PISA 2022 results represent outcomes from the 8th cycle of PISA since its inception in 2000. PISA has been conducted every three years except for a one-year delay in the current cycle (from 2021 to 2022) due to the pandemic. After the 2025 data collection, PISA will change to a four-year data collection cycle. The major domain of study rotates between mathematics, science, and reading in each cycle.” Approximately 700,000 students participated in the 2022 exam across 80 countries. Singapore students had the top scores in mathematics, reading and science.“
Singapore's educational philosophy centers on nurturing well-rounded individuals who are academically proficient, morally upright, and contribute positively to society. The system emphasizes a holistic approach, focusing not only on academic excellence but also on character development and social skills. This philosophy is rooted in the belief that education should empower students to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens.
Read more: Supt. Drake: Measuring the quality of an educational system