The Bemidji School District will go forward with a referendum election. This would be a special election, and all voters within the district will receive a notification, according to district staffer Krissi Fenner. Fenner said the district receives about 60 percent of its revenue from the state, 4 percent from the federal government, and the…
The Bemidji School Board will further explore an operating referendum request during their meeting Monday. According to the results of a community-wide survey, the district is fairly confident that a referendum would pass. The last operating referendum that was approved was in 2014, which was a $180 per pupil, 10-year levy that supports day-to-day operations…
The Minnesota Legislature passed what it has called the biggest increase to e-12 education in the last 15 years, and Superintendent Tim Lutz says while the district is thankful for the increases, in the big picture, the district is still heading into financial trouble. The 2 percent per-pupil funding formula was increased, and Lutz said…
Assistant Bemidji High School Speech Coach Anna Hamann received her first coaching diamond from the National Speech and Debate Association. Head coach Tom Lucas recently achieved double diamond status, so both were recognized during a ceremony Sunday night. Lucas has been coaching BHS Speakers since 2006, and Hamann has since 2008. Beginning today, BHS Speaker…
The Summer Food Service Program will resume next week. Bemidji Area Schools Food Services is partnering with the US Department of Agriculture to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students 18 years old and younger. Seven locations will be providing lunches Monday through Thursday mornings, with a bundled meal offered Thursdays.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith is introducing legislation that would help high school students along the path to high demand fields, very similar to Bemidji High School’s Career Academies. Smith said that the bill would help districts that already have the framework, like Bemidji, to continue to do these programs with federal funding. Listen here for…
Eight teachers were re-hired by Bemidji Area Schools during their meeting Monday. District staff advised the board that thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan–the third round of COVID-19 related relief funding from the federal government– they were able to address class size concerns going into the next school year. One reading intervention teacher’s…
Gov. Tim Walz announced Thursday that the state’s mask mandate will end today. The Centers for Disease Control updated guidelines on mask-wearing for fully vaccinated Americans prior to the announcement. Bemidji City Manager Nate Mathews said that masks, for those who are fully vaccinated, will also be phased out in Bemidji today. More information on…
For the first time in Minnesota’s history, the state House of Representatives will vote on a bill legalizing recreational marijuana. The vote is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, and the debates can be viewed on the House’s streaming website. House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler said today that while opposition to the bill remains in the…
Cass Lake-Bena Schools will hold a special election today to fill a vacancy on the school board. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters in the Bena or Winnie Portage precinct may cast ballots at the Bena Community Center, with all other district voters polling at Pike Bay Town Hall in Cass…
