Pelican levy referendum set for fall

School district seeking $1,100 per student

By Trisha Marczak (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Thursday, June 19, 2008

Following a recommendation from a Roger Warner Associates, Inc. Organizational Analysis Study, The Pelican Rapids School Board voted Tuesday to bring an operations levy to voters in November’s elections.

The district’s declining enrollment and shortage of state funds has resulted in over $1 million worth of cuts over the past five years. The district recently cut $500,000 from the budget from the 2008-09 school year, said Superintendent Deb Wanek.

The levy would bring in an extra $1100 per student, which would add roughly $1.2 million to the district’s budget, depending on enrollment.

Roger Warner studies are conducted throughout the state of Minnesota to help school districts assess gaps and methods of improvement.

A 30-person blue-collar community group, made up of a diverse group of residents, was assigned to assess the study, and concluded that the board should consider allowing residents to vote on an operations levy.

The study found that, according to 2005-06 statistics, the average household in Minnesota contributed $550 to support the district’s schools, compared to an average of $38 per household in Pelican Rapids.

Pelican Rapids is one of 41 of Minnesota’s 340 school districts that does not currently have an education levy.

In recent years, the district has cut positions in core elementary subjects such as math, science, social studies and English. Media Center time has also been cut back.

Kindergarten classes are experiencing roughly 20 fewer students compared to graduating classes.

“If we have to cut more, we’re really going to be cutting into the meat and potatoes,” Wanek said.

The levy would allow the district to maintain current services to students.

College level courses, agricultural studies and other specialty programs would have to be discontinued if the school does not receive the additional funds, Wanek said.

If approved, the levy would be in effect for at least 10 years, depending on action from the school board. Every fall school board members would reconvene to assess the district’s need for the levy.