Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Information

  • During the 2022-23 school year, the Lakeville Area Schools Administration and Board of Education faced the difficult task of balancing the budget for the 2023-24 school year. With a minimum of $7 million dollars in budget cuts required for the 2023-24 school year, which is around 3.5% of the budget, the District considered a range of options to bring the finances back into balance. With the input of staff, school building and department leaders, union representatives, and the finance and facilities task forces, the Administration considered budget reduction options and presented a plan to the Board of Education for its consideration on March 13, 2023. The plan was finalized by the Board of Education at the Special Meeting on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. 

    Below is a summary of the approved reductions and cuts:

    • Post-pandemic related cuts include adjusting LinK12 Lakeville Online School staffing and eliminating permanent substitutes.
    • District office reductions and restructuring in the Business Office, Facilities Department, Human Resources Department, Communications and Public Relations Department, Student Services Department, Special Education Department, Teaching and Learning Department, Technology Department, Student Information Department, and the Superintendent’s Office
    • Districtwide reductions include the elimination of the walker zone pay-to-ride bus program; balancing the Title 1 program; establishing starting salary limits for new hires; combining some staffing at the Area Learning Center and LinK12 Lakeville Online School; eliminating the use of unauthorized appliances; 0.5 full-time employees at Crystal Lake Education Center; establishing a facility user fee for use of facilities; and closing facilities for a few weeks during non-school days to save on utility/maintenance costs
    • Elementary level adjustments include reducing two Elementary Assistant Principal positions, adding a STEM class for kindergarten and reducing one of two music sections, adjusting class sizes at Orchard Lake Elementary, reducing a support position in the Ignite! Program, and reducing a behavior support position at Cherry View Elementary
    • At the middle school level, course and schedule adjustments were made to align to state standards in Fine Arts and English Language Arts while providing more exploratory classes, as well as cutting the COMET program, and increasing fees for middle school activities. 
    • High school level adjustments include a new required minimum enrollment of 15 students or more for all core and elective courses, as well as reductions of 3 full-time employees per building, which includes the elimination of one world language.
    • Selling the Area Learning Center facility and moving the school to a suite at Kenwood Trail Middle School
    • A K-12 reorganization of digital learning specialists, media specialists and educational technology support of 10 full-time employees, and reallocating support hours across all K-12 buildings
    • Reducing the salary of the Board of Education to $1 for July 1 through December 31, 2023

FY24 Budget FAQs & Timeline

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  • FY23 and FY24 Budget Timeline

  • How did this financial situation occur?

  • How did the Administration determine which budget reductions to propose to the Board of Education?

  • What can we expect in terms of new funding from the Minnesota State Legislature?

  • Why can’t some items be included in budget reductions?