Bemidji Area Schools

As Bemidji Area Schools mediates with its bargaining units after a spring of budget cuts, Bemidji bus drivers and their supporters urged the Board for their support.

Speakers from Bemidji, Cass Lake-Bena, Pequot Lakes, Pillager, Walker, Laporte, Cherry, Mountain Iron-Buhl, Red Lake County, UNC, Staples-Motley and Crookston took home hardware.

In its April 20, 2026, meeting, the School Board approved a series of cuts in licensed and non-licensed staff and approved a tentative agreement with the local teachers union.

Defending champions Pequot Lakes will be joined by Northeast Range/Ely, Bemidji, Brainerd, Cloquet, Thief River Falls and Warroad at the state robotics tournament in May 2026.

The qualifiers span 27 Northern Minnesota teams and all 13 categories. Over 30 are repeat qualifiers, including five medalists and one reigning champion.

A motion to close and consolidate the Bemidji school, dispersing students to other area elementaries serving kindergarten through third grade, failed to pass on a 3-3 vote.

Bemidji Area Schools is considering consolidating its elementary schools by closing J.W. Smith, and community members are urging the Board to look at other options.

Parents and community members gathered at the J.W. Smith Elementary gymnasium for the Q&A session. The School Board will host a public hearing on March 24, 2026.

The Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce's annual trip to St. Paul on March 5, 2026, included many first-time visitors who advocated on local issues.

The school district must now advertise the planned closure for two weeks before hosting a public hearing on the decision, which would go into effect this spring.