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Citizens are encouraged to attend a Chisago Lakes School Board “Listening Session” July 17.  The Board will be available for taking comments and questions in a 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. timeframe in the Lakeside School Media Center.  The Board then meets in regular session in the Board room in a wing of the same building at 6 p.m.  

Lakeside Elementary School is on Karmel Avenue, north of Highway 8 in Chisago City.

You should let the district know if you wish to speak July 17 by sending an email to Michelle at [email protected]. Give them a head’s up on issues you want to address.

The school board members at the Board meeting did not review data generated through a recent survey that was done post referendum.  Superintendent Brian Dietz said the information from responses is still being compiled and will be on the July agenda.  

In August it is anticipated a new referendum ballot and vote date can begin to be debated. Supt. Dietz added, “...the timeline is tight” if the district is looking towards February for another vote.

Of the necessity for another ballot, he said “We have to do this work (projects) we have no other option.” 

In other business...

Two year contracts (2025 to 2027) were approved last week for the Chisago Lakes School District employees in Food Service, Technology and Custodial units.  

The School Board meeting packet has  hourly wages and insurance, etc broken down for all the groups for reference. Find the Board on-line information under the “Our District” header on the Homepage and drop down to the school board for meeting agenda reference materials.  

The Board was advised the contracts are increasing by a percentage greater  than revenues in the state funding formula are slated to increase.

For 2024 the state legislature allotted a four percent hike in pupil aid, for 2025 it was two percent and for 2026 it is increasing by 2.74 percent.  The Basic Education General formula nets Chisago Lakes $7,481 per pupil in K-6 and $8,977 for each pupil enrolled in K-12.  Other funding for multiple different levies is added to this basic ed formula.  The local property tax levy covers about $11 million used in General Fund spending.

The Board members also had to act on the 2025-2026 budget before the end of this fiscal year (see graphic) and members voted to adopt as  presented.  A decreasing enrollment over the last four years is projected to level-off. 

For 2024-2025 overall district revenues are at $58.8 million.

Chisago Lakes will spend down $1,095,620 in its reserves— which were projected by the financial director to be $6.7 million as of June 2026.

State funding goes to about 80 percent of district expenses overall. 

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