NICOLLET – The Nicollet Public School Board learned about a potential $325,000 shortfall in special education funding Wednesday

The board received a financial update from District Business Manager Jim Freihammer at their meeting on Wednesday. Freihammer presented the 2024-2025 preliminary budget, a year-to-date report, and a 2024-2025 end of the year projected budget.

The preliminary budget listed a $178,432 surplus with an enrollment of 337 students, the year-to-date shows a $921,971 deficit with an enrollment of 306 students, and the end of the year predicts a $605,427 deficit.

“The school district needs money to operate totally,” Freihammer said. “We need to pay operational costs, salaries, and benefits for our employees. One of the things that have led to this is, on January 17, I received a MDE data submission that did not have information on Special Education staff’s salary and benefits. The information had been accidentally deleted in November by a third party that help us with our data. This is a serious situation because the impact of not having $150,000 in staff salary and benefits can result in a $325,000 loss in Special Education aid.

Freihammer filed an appeal on Feb. 12, but has not heard back on the decision of the appeal.

“We need to borrow money to keep operations going here,” said Freihammer.

In response, to the financial situation, a motion was made to approve the “General Obligation and Anticipation Certificates of Indebtedness, Series 2025A” for $890,000.

The motion passed with Chairperson Adam Erickson, Board Members Jill Martens, Ashley Black, and Mathew Cabanilla voting yes. Board Member Abbi Carleton voted no. Board Member Scot Osborne was absent.

Staff changes

Superintendent Robin Courrier gave an informational report for staff changes for the 2025-2026 school year. The school is considering moving from 30 teaching staff this year to 29 teaching staff next year.

For the Food Service, they had three staff and a student worker. One staff member left in February, and Courrier is considering not filling that position.

“In addition, we need to eliminate overtime with our different areas. Any overtime that needs to happen should be pre-approved unless there is an emergency,” said Courrier.

Courrier recommended, and the Board approved, the following programs and positions be discontinued: Elementary Teacher: Behavior Interventionist; Middle School Math; part-time custodian/library media assistant; and to not renew the contract with Remmert Consulting for the K-8 principal.

Courrier also recommended reassigning the current Ag/CTE full-time teacher to half-time CTE (Career, Tech Ed) teacher and half-time TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment) assignment coordinating a robust CTE program, Grant writing chair, Workbase Coordinator, and FFA Coordinator. She also requested to post a position for a full-time CTE teacher. The Board tabled the recommendation and request.

“If we were financially stable, this is a great idea to expand our programs to attract more students. We do need to be fiscally responsible, not only to our school, but also to our taxpayers,” said Erickson.

Currently NPS has a superintendent with Grades 9-12 principal duties, half-time K-8 principal, and a full-time Dean of Students. Courrier presented three recommendations to the Board for their consideration for the administrative configuration. Have two full-time administrators (Superintendent Courrier and reassign Sam Cotton to half Dean of Students and half K-8 Principal); have two full-time administrators (Superintendent with K-12 Principal duties and a Dean of Students for K-12); or if funding is available (Superintendent, K-12 Principal, and a Dean of Students).

Strategic Planning

Courrier reported that the Strategic Planning Committee had its first meeting on March 11. Upcoming meetings will be March 19 and April 2 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Future dates will be announced later.

“We have done internal and external surveys. The team is about thirty-four people. Our students are our largest group. They did a fantastic job sharing their opinions about how to move forward,” said Courrier. “It is recognized as a School Board meeting because we have three or more school board members which make it an official meeting, but it is called a workshop.”

Courrier continues to work with NEXUS regarding the long range facility planning.

“We started working with them in August,” Courrier said. “They are doing a long range facility study. They have met with the facilities team. They presented a draft of what we need to update on our facilities and what we could update. They put together a 5-year plan and a 10-year plan. They will be sending a survey to all community members for their input. The Board will look at a draft survey at their April meeting.

“Plans are to send the survey out at the end of April or in May. We hope to get the results of the survey in June with a recommendation from the Board at their June meeting. This plan could possibly include considering a referendum, or no.”

Other news

In the fall, some staff received Mental Health First Aid Training, and on March 5 they also had virtual training. The 10th grade parent informational meeting was on March 6. “On March 18 we will start our 10th graders with the Teen Training on mental health. It will be seven sessions either in their health or social studies class,” said Courrier.

The first Community Conversations meeting with Brianna Williamson from KinnectEd was held in February with about 20-25 community members attending. There will be two more opportunities for community members to attend in April and May.

The Choose to be Nice Recognition Breakfast was held on February 6th to celebrate nine students who were chosen by their peers as students who model the behaviors of Honesty. There are: JJ Hernandez, Kindergarten; Arrow Thompson and Ellie Bruno, 1st grade; Olivia Bruns, 2nd grade; Adaline Gunderson, 3rd grade; Emma Soost and Kenzie Emich, 4th grade; Holden Radel, 5th grade; and Gavin Radel, 6th grade.

Courrier recommended, and the board approved, an additional $2,000 for the Enrollment Growth Task Force committee for the purpose of advertisement and mailings encouraging enrollment at NPS. Carleton, a member of the Task Force, added that the members of the Task Force are excited and motivated to get things going and see what they can do about increasing enrollment. Martens requested that the Task Force provide the board with a marketing plan. Courier felt that it would be appropriate to require a monthly budget update.

The next meeting of the Board is 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 9.