Becker Public Schools — Transcript
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Student Reports and Recognition
Superintendent's Report: Legislative Updates
Superintendent's Report: Staff Appreciation
Superintendent's Report: Summer Construction Projects
Superintendent's Report: Staffing Decisions and Budget Adjustments
Committee Reports: Policy and Finance
Committee Reports: Activities Rates and Fee Increases
Committee Reports: Curriculum Review and Updates
Co-op Update
Policy Review Updates (First Reading and Minor Changes)
Policy Review Updates (Second Readings)
Revised Budget for 2025-2026
Proposed Budget for 2026-2027
Votes (5)
Activity Fees for 2026-2027 School Year
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [0:19:15] · Seconded by Board Member [0:19:15]
The Activities Committee recommended raising high school activity fees from $200 to $250 and middle school fees from $150 to $175 for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years. This decision was based on significant increases in transportation costs and official fees (e.g., baseball officials increased 18% to $110 per game, plus new mileage rates). The committee considered different approaches, including per-sport charges, but settled on a biennial increase to stay competitive within the conference and partially offset rising costs. Fine arts fees and reduced/free lunch rates for middle school were not increased.
Policy Review Updates (No Second Reading Needed)
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [0:19:48] · Seconded by Board Member [0:19:48]
The Superintendent presented numerous policy updates for review and approval. These updates were largely driven by state statute changes and Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) requirements. Key changes included adopting the Minnesota Code of Ethics (Policy 306), statute updates for Policy 414, allowing alcohol on campus for certain temporary licensed events (Policy 418), minor wording changes in Policy 516, and a decision not to allow students to administer overdose medication (Policy 516.5). Other updates covered Labor Day start (Policy 602), transportation for students with disabilities, and surplus books (Policy 802). These policies were aligned with MSBA guidelines.
Policy Review Updates (Second Readings)
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [0:22:32] · Seconded by Board Member [0:22:33]
The board addressed policies requiring a second reading. The primary discussion point was Policy 503, where a minor but significant change was made from 'shall' to 'may' regarding the ability to adjust a student's grade due to a certain number of chronic excused absences. This change was informed by staff feedback to provide flexibility, acknowledging varying student circumstances.
Revised Current Year Budget (2025-2026)
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [0:26:24] · Seconded by Board Member [0:26:26]
Kevin presented the revised budget for the current fiscal year, detailing adjustments since its initial adoption in May. The general fund projected revenues of $43.58 million and expenditures of $44.257 million, leading to a $687,000 decrease, primarily in operating capital and long-term facilities maintenance reserves. The food service fund also saw a planned reduction of $299,000, and the building construction fund was being spent down for roofing work. The general fund unassigned balance was projected at 9.15%, meeting the district's 8% policy.
Proposed Next Year Budget (2026-2027)
Dissent: None
Moved by Board Member [0:29:56] · Seconded by Board Member [0:29:58]
Kevin presented the proposed budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The budget projects continued spending from capital reserves, specifically for the remaining roofing contract, which was not fully covered by the original bond. The general fund's unassigned balance is estimated at 9.02%, comfortably above the 8% policy target. The food service fund is planned to be reduced further to comply with the mandated 3-month operating expenditure limit by June 2027. Community service funds, particularly for school readiness, remain a concern due to insufficient state aid compared to ECFE programs. The building construction fund is expected to go to zero by August as projects complete.
Notable Quotes (11)
baseball alone had an 18% increase in official costs. So, just, uh, each official gets 110 per game right now, three officials. So, I mean, we're at $330 per per game just for, you know, baseball for the season, per game.
overall, um, we've decided to go from 200 It's our recommendation from the at the high school level to go from 200 to 250 for the next, uh, 2 years, and then that's an increase $50, and then, uh, $25 from 150 to 175, um, at the middle school. And that'll basically keep us right in line, right in the middle, upper upper echelon of where everybody else is in conference.
One of the One of the you know, difficult areas was was what's the target, you know? It was It's hard to hit something when you You know you have to raise it, but so a lot of time went into, okay, what's a reasonable
Policy 306, they changed the entire code of ethics to to update it to the Minnesota code of ethics.
516.5, we talked about that one for a little while about um Narcan and other overdose medication, uh not allowing students. So there was a optional piece to add in there about 9th through 12th grade, allowing them students to um provide overdose medication, but we our SROs have it, our police officers in our community and county have it. The nurses all have it. Um and so we just didn't we haven't had that issue. Um and we don't know if students know when somebody's overdosing or not, so we just didn't know what to to put in there. So we're going to leave it the way it is.
Um the word shall was on there instead of may. Um so we changed that to may. It was in regards to a student who had a certain number of absences we were we are allowed to change their grade one letter grade um talked about in there. Um but getting some feedback from staff members and and things they said keep that open if possible cuz it says uh shall remove it when you hit I don't know what I can't think it was 12 of chronic excused absences. And then we changed it to may so they may still do that cuz it dep- everyone has a different circumstance and and things and it gives our staff flexibility on that.
Um the top portion is the general fund. Um you'll see we have revenues of 43,580. Expenditures of 44 uh million 257. So, we actually have a decrease of 687. Most of that is in the reserves of the uh operating capital and long-term facilities maintenance.
And again, these are still estimates cuz we're not through the end of the year yet... but projected right now, it'd be then that far right number there that 9.15% is where the fund balance would be at.
Um and in here you'll see also there's a variance up on the top for the total general fund. But then go down to the capital reserves and you'll see that's where most That's where all of that spending is coming down and that's mainly again, like I mentioned, it's the remaining part of the roofing contract that we didn't have enough in the bond to finish it all.
And school readiness is always struggling. And that's not just us. Um all four districts I've been in it looks like the preschool is struggling to to their budgets.
We are on the low end. The majority of districts that I know and I talked to, they're between 12 and 20%. But we're meeting the policy, that's a good thing.
Ordinances & Resolutions (29)
State mandate impacting curriculum, assessments, and teacher training related to reading instruction.
Updated standard for Policy 306 regarding staff conduct.
Proposed legislative initiative for $1,700 scholarships, pending governor's approval.
Code of ethics, updated to Minnesota code of ethics.
Statute updates included.
Allows serving alcohol on campus for temporary license events like Freedom Days.
Changed 'auto injector' to 'delivery system' in text.
Regarding Narcan and other overdose medication; option to allow students to provide medication was not adopted.
Added Labor Day start date, aligning with calendar.
Removed some dates from policy related to facilities.
Guidelines for handling surplus books.
Revised to change 'shall' to 'may' regarding grade changes for student absences.
Primary operating fund of the school district.
Reserve fund being spent down.
Reserve fund used to pay for remaining roofing work.
Restricted fund balance as required by state for American Indian education.
Restricted fund balance as required by state for literacy programs.
Restricted fund balance for scholarships.
Restricted fund balance for student activities.
Restricted fund balance for field trips and fundraising.
Restricted fund balance, specific to Yelm School.
Prepaids that cannot be spent until next fiscal year.
Fund for food service operations, undergoing planned reduction.
Encompasses Community Ed, ECFE, and School Readiness programs.
Early Childhood Family Education program fund, state aid has led to growing fund balance.
Preschool program fund, consistently struggling with budgets due to insufficient state aid.
Part of the community ed top portion fund.
Funds remaining for the high school roof completion, to be spent down.
Fund that collects property taxes to repay principal and interest on bonds.