Thief River Falls Public School District voters approved its funding request on the November 5 ballot.
The operating levy will generate $900 per student in annual revenue to be used to maintain class sizes and programming.
“The referendum question passed in the Nov. 5 election will make a big difference in the learning environment for our students,” said Thief River Falls Public Schools Supt. Chris Mills. “We thank all voters who made their voices heard, and we thank all of you for supporting our students, families, and hard-working staff.”
Mills said the referendum approval will support students and staff. With the approval of the operating levy the district can:
• Retain quality teachers
• Retain quality programs
• Maintain adequate class sizes
• Maintain elective classes and activities that support diverse student interests
Thief River Falls School Board Chair Ryan Walseth believes that now that the election is over, a new chapter in the future for students can begin. “We understand that not everyone voted yes on this question,” Walseth said. “We believe there is common ground in supporting the needs of our children, and we will build on that common ground to ensure that we all move forward together.”
The community will be informed at every step of the process about more specific uses of referendum dollars with regular updates from the school district. The district will provide more information about what might be restored, but also about continued rightsizing.
The complete referendum results appeared in The Times, which was printed on Nov. 6.