by April Scheinoha
Editor
It may be eight months away, but the Thief River Falls School District is already starting conversations about the budget for the 2026-27 school year. At its meeting Monday, Jan. 12, the Thief River Falls School Board heard an enrollment update and reorganized for 2026.
For the 2026-27 school year, Superintendent Dr. Chris Mills anticipates some reductions will be needed since the incoming kindergarten class is projected to have about 35 fewer students than the out-going senior class.
Mills provided an enrollment update for this school year. As of Jan. 5, the district has 1,645 students. He noted 32 students have left the district since the start of the school year. Of that number, there are 12 fewer Franklin Middle School students and 25 fewer Lincoln High School students. However, the district gained five students at Challenger Elementary School.
Online programs are making a major impact on the district’s enrollment, said Mills, who noted such programs are causing problems in many districts.
Mills further noted that online programs face little accountability from the state. He said some online programs have poor grades on the Minnesota Report Card in terms of students’ attendance rates, and Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment math and reading test scores. Mills referred to a recent instance where a student returned to the district after being enrolled for two-and-a-half years in an online program and only earning three credits.
Mills indicated that the district has shared its concerns about online schools with Sen. Mark Johnson and planned to share its concerns with Reps. John Burkel and Steve Gander. He said the state has a responsibility to clean up the situation.
As part of his update to board members, Mills also spoke about a request from Discovery Place Early Learning Center. The childcare center recently asked the district to partner with the daycare center for food service at the latter facility’s new location. Mills noted that Discovery Place is struggling to provide food service there. He said the district doesn’t currently have the staff to provide 110 to 120 meals for breakfast and lunch at the daycare center. Mills noted that the district may be able to provide food service to the daycare center in the summer.
In separate motions, School Board elected directors to serve in four positions. The results were:
• Chairperson – Ryan Walseth
• Vice Chairperson – Misty Hempel
• Treasurer – John Syvertson
• Clerk – Mike Spears
The board designated the 2026 board salaries. After a brief discussion, the board kept the salaries at the same amount as 2025.
The salaries are:
• Walseth, chairperson, $4,824
• Hempel, vice chairperson, $4,193
• Spears, clerk, and Syvertson, treasurer, $3,905 each
• Lindsay Gregory, Jared Kainz and Michelle Westerman, directors, $3,675 each
• Westerman, lead negotiator, $894
• Syvertson, Walseth and Westerman, negotiators, $785 each
The salaries were last changed in 2022.
School Board designated its regular board meeting schedule for 2026, unless changed by formal action, with a start time of 6 p.m., and special board meetings scheduled by board action as necessary. The remaining 2026 meetings are scheduled Jan. 26; Feb. 23; March 9 and 23; April 27; May 11 and 26; June 22; July 27; Aug. 10 and 24; Sept. 14 and 28; Oct. 26; Nov. 9 and 23; and Dec. 7.
If a School Board meeting were canceled for any reason, including inclement weather, the makeup date would be the following day with the same location (the District Service Center) and time.
Ellie McDermott, a student representative to the board, provided an update.
McDermott noted that students and staff are mourning the loss of senior Gunner Thorpe, who passed away Jan. 8 in a traffic accident. She said multiple fundraisers are being held for Thorpe’s family.
On a happier note, McDermott shared that she has been selected as Lincoln High School’s Academics, Arts and Athletics Award winner. She downplayed the honor, but Mills pointed out that the award is a big deal.
McDermott and other recipients will be recognized at Shooting Star Casino on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The Triple A award recognizes students who excel in academics, athletics and arts. Students must maintain an exemplary grade point average while being a multi-sport athlete and participating in one of the Minnesota State High School League-sponsored arts programs.
McDermott is active in choir, volleyball, basketball, softball, Key Club, National Honor Society and other activities while maintaining a 3.97 GPA.
During her update, McDermott also recognized other recent student achievements.
In girls wrestling, the achievements included Natalia Zoller’s 75th career win, Maddie Poissant’s 50th career pin and Molly Ferguson’s 50th career win. (Ferguson is a Red Lake County Central High School student who wrestles for the Prowlers.)
In boys basketball, Bridger Wilcox scored his 1,000th point.
In girls hockey, Alexis Sawatzke switched positions from center to wing, scoring four points during her last two games.
Three LHS seniors were also declared the winners of the Thief River Falls Rotary’s annual Essay Contest. They included Marley Anderson, first place, $500; Piper Kezar, second place, $250; and McDermott, third place, $100. Anderson now advances on to the next competition.
Student organizations have also been hard at work. McDermott said National Honor Society recently concluded a coat drive for Franklin Middle School students, collecting a large number of coats.
McDermott noted that the LHS Key Club and the Sanford Thief River Falls Auxiliary are hosting a Soup and Chili Cookoff on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 12 p.m. at the Thief River Falls Eagles Club. The cookoff is among the Frost Fest activities scheduled for this weekend.
McDermott noted that preparations are also underway for Snofest, which will be held Feb. 2-6 at LHS. The theme will be “Eras.”
The next School Board meeting is scheduled Monday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. at the District Service Center.