About 90 parents, students, teachers and school administrators gathered at the Chaska High School on Monday to ask questions and provide feedback on cost-cutting measures that were proposed at the regular School Board meeting on Jan. 27.
Community members were encouraged to share ideas via a thought exchange platform set up by the district. The online platform can be found here and will be open until noon on Friday, Feb. 7.
READ: District 112 Plans Cost Cutting Measures
The session began with a presentation by District 112 School Board Chair Sean Olson, Superintendent Dr. Erin Rathke and Executive Director of Finance and Operations David Brecht. The presentation was followed by breakout sessions where community members could ask questions of School Board and administration members and provide feedback.
Facing an expected budget deficit, the district is proposing a cost containment plan to cut $5 million in expenses for the 2025-26 school year and $4 million for the following academic year.
“There’s not one thing that has brought us here, it is really what we’re calling a converging of factors,” said Superintendent Dr. Erin Rathke as she outlined factors including rising costs and declining revenues, as well as “unfunded mandates” –– programs that districts are required by law to provide, but may not continue to receive funding to support the programs in the future.
WATCH: Recorded livestream of the community engagement session
In the engagement breakout session, many parents expressed concern and frustration over reductions of middle school band lessons as well as raising class sizes in elementary and middle school classes and asked about other alternatives.
School Board member Jenny Stone said the proposed reductions are some of the only cuts the district has left to make and encouraged community members to call state legislators to fund mandated programs.
Even when we say it’s programs — lets’ be real — it’s teachers, because it’s the only lever,” she said.
Cuts also include 10 percent reduction in building and department supply budgets, as well as amending the district calendar to remove one instructional day. The administration is also recommending a reduction in future salary and benefit package hikes for staff.
There are also proposals to raise revenue via higher facility rental fees, high school parking fees and student activity participation fees.
The school board will have a working session on Monday, Feb. 10, to review the feedback and comments from the engagement session and thought exchange. The final plan will be presented for approval at the next regular school board meeting on Monday, Feb. 24.
More details about the district’s financial future can be found here.
