The Bemidji High School will keep its four-period block schedule for now, but the Bemidji School Board will be looking to fill the budget gap elsewhere.
During the meeting Monday night, Superintendent Tim Lutz informed the board of $5.6 million in budget cuts the district will need to make.
These cuts would bring its general fund balance to a positive $1.6 million and steer clear of falling into a statutory operating deficit, which would require the state to come in and make the necessary cuts.
Lutz emphasized that the situation the district is finding itself in is not borne of spending but borne of a loss of revenue.
The district lost 280 student enrollments, a $2.8 million decline in per-pupil funding.
The operating referendum, if successful, would have generated $1.5 million in new revenue each year.
The district will now look at various options to make up the shortfall, such as layoffs and increasing class sizes, as well as reducing extracurriculars, course offerings and student supports.
Watch the entire school board meeting here, the budget discussions begin around two hours into the meeting.
