Education

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.

A bill authored by Rep. Ben Bakeberg, R-Jordan, would give the Blue Ribbon Commission more time to recommend cuts and eliminate the automatic funding cut.

The district will break ground on elementary school and career and technical education additions after a nine-month design phase.

Voters rejected the school district's plans to replace Rippleside Elementary on April 14, 2026, by a wider margin than they did in November 2025.

Ely joins the wave of Northern Minnesota school districts trying out a four-day week to address budget constraints. The Rock Ridge School Board didn't rule out making the move in the future.

Students from across Minnesota gathered at the Capitol to showcase their robotics skills and promote education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

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.

The district estimates closing the school, which serves second and third grade, will save it at least $516,000 as it works to address a $2 million budget shortfall.

The approvals mark the resolution of months of back-and-forth that nearly resulted in a strike. The union's focus was on time off and wording changes, rather than wage increases.

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.