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Dear Members of the Ely Community, I am writing to provide a continued message of transparency regarding the financial health of our school district. Last year, we were faced with economic challenges, and we needed to make significant cuts. We are currently in year two of the reductions and are experiencing additional challenges that will lead to increased expenditure reductions for the 20252026 school year.
The district continues to face challenges that include declining enrollment, increased operating expenses, unfunded mandates from the state, and unforeseen circumstances, such as the economic downturn. Despite our best efforts to mitigate the impact of these challenges, the Ely Public School District is faced again with the difficult task of making tough decisions to ensure the long-term financial stability of our district while continuing to provide a high-quality education for all students. Due to these challenges, the district faces a $460,000 expenditure reduction for the 2025-2026 school year.
Our administration, department heads, finance committee members, and school board members are working to identify areas where budget reductions can be made. We will continue to work with our staff to identify the specific cuts. Our reductions will impact our district’s operations, including staffing, programs and services. The district finance committee, school board, and staff will continue to meet throughout March to discuss and finalize specific reductions, which will be communicated in April.
We understand that news of budget reductions may be unsettling for our families and community members, and we want to assure you that we are committed to maintaining the quality of education that the Ely Public School District is known for. We will strive to make thoughtful and strategic decisions that prioritize the needs of our students and align with our district’s values and goals.
We will remain transparent and communicative and provide regular updates. We value your feedback and support as we work together to navigate these challenging times. Thank you for your continued understanding as we confront these difficult decisions.
Sincerely, Anne M. Oelke Superintendent of the Ely Public School District
