FAIRMONT – The next few steps regarding budget and facilities at Fairmont Schools were laid out by Superintendent Andy Traetow during Tuesday’s School Board meeting.

To start with, Traetow springboarded off of a resolution passed at the Jan. 27 school board meeting, to look and see if expenditures need to be reduced, and how they could do so.

“Processes have been put in motion to identify impacted areas as listed in the resolution,” Traetow said. “All of our departments and operations at both buildings will be assessed for opportunities to reduce those expenditures.”

Currently, he said they are looking to reduce expenditures by two to three percent across their total budget.

“We’ll also consider opportunities where we can increase revenue, as well as the areas that we’re making reductions,” Traetow said. “A lot of things that are revenue-based, we haven’t changed as a district for many, many years, which has been a testament to the budgeting process that you as a board have overseen.”

While spending could be cut, Traetow said there are a few areas where there will for sure not be a reduction.

“Reduction in expenditures does not directly equate to a reduction in the work that is completed throughout the school district or a reduction in our expectations of providing the highest quality expectation or education for our students,” he said. “There will still be observable work throughout the district that doesn’t stop. Nonetheless, we have to be mindful of our expenditures and work within our means.”

Looking at building and facilities needs that cannot currently be addressed by current operational funds or long-term maintenance funds, Traetow said discussions will be held soon on what to do.

“We have an upcoming committee meeting with our operations team that’s scheduled with ICS, our construction firm consultants, that will take place on March 5,” he said. “They will be there to discuss with us next steps on potential timelines and/or project adjustments for a future building bond referendum in response to the vote that did not pass in the fall.”

Last on the financial front, the school board is looking at the operating referendum that was approved by voters in 2016 at $301.05 per student, or $500,000 annually. Thanks to changes at the state level, Traetow said they have some wiggle room and options with this referendum.

“The state legislature passed the authority for school boards to be able to renew an operating referendum one time for the same period of its distribution. You, as a board, will have until June 15 of 2027 to determine whether or not to renew our current operating referendum, allow it to expire, reduce the amount, or seek voter approval for replacing the current with an additional amount to be added.”

Currently, the plan is to review the operating referendum as a school board, as well as hold discussions within the operations committee.

In other news:

— Traetow recently met with State Representative Bjorn Olson. Traetow said this has become an annual occurrence to connect regarding school district needs, and they discussed actions regarding the parameters of statutes, requirements for instructional hours and review of educational statutes that have been untouched for several years.

— Discussions between Traetow and Principal Chad Brusky were had regarding College in the Schools (CIS). The duo is looking at potentially helping teachers go back to school so they can teach college-level CIS courses.

“Principal Brusky and I have had discussions with a few teachers regarding the potential of going back to school to earn their credentials, so with some staffing changes coming up, we’ll be able to maintain all of our college and school offerings into the future,” Traetow said.