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The Chisago Lakes School Board authorized adding a section (class) to the Taylors Falls kindergarten for the coming year.  The district had planned on 50 entering kindergarten and the Board heard there already are 49 students with a number of additional anticipated, if historical enrollment trends are any indication.  Between end of the year and start of the next, kindergarten numbers generally see growth from established numbers, the superintendent told the School Board last week.

The Taylors Falls school will have two classrooms at 16 students and one at 17 with the hire.  Otherwise it was projected to look more like two rooms with 24 or 25, which is “a lot of kids” for this age group, Supt. Dietz stated.

The other kindergarten program at Primary in Chisago City was budgeted  for 180 kindergarteners total and so far 168 are identified.

In total the district enrollment for the year just completed was reported at 3,257.

The Board congratulated Robyn Vosberg-Torgerson for earning a Minnesota Department of Education award for accuracy and achievement in financial reporting.  

The department recognizes outstanding finance and business services  directors annually for submitting timely data, maintaining positive fund balances and other aspects of fiscal duties. This year 380 of Minnesota’s 574 districts qualified.

As for the upcoming and year-ending financial picture, Vosberg Torgerson said there is “nothing glaring” in the closing fiscal year budget.  

As for the snapshot of where the district is ending the fiscal year, she explained that Chisago Lakes spent down some of its balances, using about $733,000—but the overall totals in all funds are strong.    The Board policy is to maintain five to seven percent of annual expenditures as a balance and the district is teetering right at five now.

With the increase in property values and new properties coming onto tax rolls  the debt service fund has seen a bit of relief, and taxpayers may experience a slight dip in what is collected next year off individual parcels for this specific district expense. 

Chisago Lakes has a current debt service account with $5.2 million in expenses, in a budget overall set at $48 million.

Food Service accounts also are doing well. The Board was advised new cafeteria tables are being purchased and there’s plans for a new cooler at Primary.

The Long Term Facilities Maintenance plan was adopted,  but more information is awaited at the August school board meeting, when a “Facilities Study” will be presented.

Chisago is expecting to do some window replacement in the coming year, has boiler repair/replacement slated at Primary School, gymnasium storage rehab for Taylors Falls Elementary and work is budgeted in the auto shop area at the high school.  There are also drainage issues the district will need to monitor at various sites that could use some attention in 2025.

High School Student Board member Gabe Muedeking reported the student council has a Saturday night Homecoming scheduled this fall, instead of a traditional Friday event.  

He thanked the School Board members for supporting the theater department’s participation in the “spotlight” series, sponsored by the association of professional performance venues basically on Hennepin Avenue downtown.  “Spotlight’ gives select high school performers a chance to be on the stage at the historic State Theatre in Minneapolis.  Critique is provided by professional evaluators and the public can attend performances. “It turned out really well” this year, Gabe stated.

There are three Board seats expiring for the upcoming general election— Lori Berg, Jeff Lindeman and Brenda Carlson. Filing window was approved for July 30 to Aug. 13.

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