OUR CHALLENGES

Financial pressure is threatening what makes Kimball Area Schools special.

Our district has worked hard to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. In fact, we have not had a net tax increase in 10 years, and the 2022 bond levy project came in on time and under budget! Despite those efforts, we are now facing a real challenge. State funding has not kept pace with our rising costs, a problem many districts in Minnesota are facing. Technology, and the systems and investments to keep it operational and protected, is no longer an optional expense in modern school environments.

Over the last decade, we have looked for ways to manage expenses, stretch resources and avoid passing additional costs on to taxpayers. But we've reached a point where doing nothing would mean difficult choices that would impact learning. We need focused funding to protect quality education and keep Kimball Area Schools competitive.

Technology and security costs are consuming general education dollars.

Technology that was once considered optional — cybersecurity, digital learning tools, secure networks and building security systems — is now essential to school operations. Without dedicated funding for these systems, the district faces an annual shortfall.

A classroom filled with young students sitting at desks, raising their hands, while a teacher stands near a whiteboard with a projected image of a classroom interior.
A classroom or computer lab with multiple desks arranged in a U-shape, each with a computer monitor and keyboard. Several students are seated and working on computers, while a few others are standing and assisting. The room has a white ceiling with fluorescent lights, and decorations including banners and framed posters on the walls.
A server room with a black rack filled with networking equipment, multiple wire cables, and a computer monitor and keyboard on a metal table in front.

The Reality: Our Budget is Stretched Too Thin

Currently, our technology and security costs are pulling dollars away from our general education funds, reducing what can be used to support essential programs, student support services, teachers and staff.

We can’t keep operating at a deficit and continue supporting the items our community values. We made difficult budget cuts a few years ago and heard significant community outcry. Since then, we’ve worked hard to rebuild and stabilize our schools, but we've reached the point where without a long-term, local funding source to help stabilize our budget, we will have to make difficult decisions that could include:

  • Reducing teachers and school support staff positions

  • Eliminating school social workers

  • Scaling back career and technical education, extracurriculars and enrichment programs

  • Increasing class sizes, which limits individualized student attention

  • Reducing student support services

These are things our community values and depends on. We don't want to be in the position of having to cut any of them to make the budgets work.

Without local funding, difficult cuts are unavoidable.

Learn more about the plan