Decline in Student enrollment, Budget Deficit Sparks District to Reopen Open Enrollment

(KNSI)- The Sauk Rapids-Rice School District is making $1.9 million in cuts in the face of a budget deficit. District 47’s School Board approved changes to the 2022-2023 budget at their last meeting in the face of $5,239,000.

The district is making cuts to its building and administrative budgets and eliminating jobs by creating staffing efficiencies. Other adjustments include increasing grade level caps for a limited time. Officials say the caps won’t exceed the targeted class sizes established in 2018.

In April, the district will accept non-resident enrollment on a first-come, first-served basis for grade levels that aren’t over the enrollment caps.

According to district officials, while non-resident applicants may request a specific elementary school, the district will assign the students to the school building that has space. Bussing will not be available for non-resident students. After a limited open enrollment period, grade level caps will go back to the original levels for district administration and staff to plan for the coming year and allow for any new resident enrollment.

Sauk Rapids-Rice will also increase activity fees for the first time since 2014 at the high school and middle school levels and the family activities cap.

During the 2022-2023 school year, the district will eliminate the transfer bus between Mississippi Heights and Pleasantview and the activities bus to Rice Elementary.

Families affected by the elimination of the transfer bus will have the chance to return to the elementary school in their neighborhood boundary. Families have until April 30th to let the district know of their intentions for next year.

District 47 says it will try to increase revenue and cut expenses and says budget adjustments are necessary to be financially stable now and in the long term.

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