Grand Forks School Leaders Explore Budget Cuts Amid $4.4M Deficit

Discussions among school and district leaders in Grand Forks are underway regarding potential budget cuts aimed at addressing a projected deficit of $4.4 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. During a retreat held on December 12, 2025, more than 40 participants, including administrators, teachers, and School Board members, gathered to evaluate various options for budget realignment.

This retreat marked the fourth of five scheduled meetings focused on determining budget priorities. Leaders acknowledged the challenges associated with making cuts but recognized the necessity of the process. “All of us principals have noted that our preference would not be to eliminate any of these things,” remarked Ali Parkinson, Principal of Discovery Elementary. She emphasized the importance of identifying sustainable solutions that can maintain academic support.

Among the topics discussed were strategies to increase revenue alongside cost-cutting measures. Proposed revenue enhancements included implementing fees for general education busing, increasing athletic fees, and charging out-of-district students for enrollment at the Career Impact Academy.

Proposals for Cost Reductions

Several significant cost reduction proposals were also on the table. School leaders considered the potential combination of elementary schools into K-2 and 3-5 configurations. Kevin Ohnstad, Principal of Phoenix Elementary, presented this idea, although he noted that many elementary school leaders expressed opposition, fearing it would undermine the concept of neighborhood schools. Ohnstad highlighted some advantages, such as improved collaboration among teachers and increased efficiency in staffing. However, he cautioned against the potential community backlash and logistical challenges that such a change could entail.

Another suggestion came from Kris Arason, Principal of Red River High School, who proposed cutting elective courses with consistently low enrollment. He assured the board that essential graduation requirements would remain intact, stating, “We don’t want to take away those high-level opportunities from kids just like we don’t want to take the support classes away from students.” Classes with fewer than 15 students would be targeted for reductions, with any changes recommended to take effect no earlier than the 2026-2027 school year.

Arason also suggested that the district consider lowering the required credits for graduation from 24 to 22. This adjustment would align with state requirements and could help alleviate classroom space shortages should course cuts be implemented.

Technology and Extracurricular Considerations

In a related discussion, Darin King, the district’s IT manager, addressed the financial implications of maintaining a one-to-one student device ratio. He proposed shifting to a one-to-two or one-to-three ratio, which could potentially reduce the district’s annual technology upkeep costs from $247,000 to $123,500 for grades three to eight. King stressed the importance of ensuring that technology policies remain systemic and sustainable in the long term.

Additional cost-saving measures discussed included the reduction of elementary intramural sports, decreasing online course enrollments, cutting contracts for elementary music teachers, and pausing new curriculum adoptions.

To help quantify the financial impact of these proposals, district Business Manager Brandon Baumbach provided estimates indicating potential savings ranging from $4.4 million to $5.34 million. Specific savings estimates included:
– Decreasing district-level support services: $544,000 to $655,000
– Closing or combining buildings: $319,000 to $398,000
– Reducing classified staff: $859,000 to $1,050,000
– Decreasing investments in educational technology: $253,000 to $309,000
– Reducing co- and extracurricular activities: $142,000 to $173,000

While no official decisions were made during the retreat, School Board members plan to hold a special meeting in early January to gather public feedback before finalizing any budgetary changes. For further information, district leaders have directed the community to visit the budget realignment section on the district’s website.