A notable highlight was the presentation by representatives from the Boys and Girls Club, detailing their extensive programs and impact within the Little Falls community. They emphasized their meal program’s success since 2001, serving over three million meals—a critical resource during the COVID-19 pandemic’s height when many families struggled to access services. The club focuses on three priority areas: academic success, character building, and healthy lifestyles, offering activities like Project Learn and Power Hour to support homework and reading initiatives. Recent efforts have shifted towards encouraging reading over screen time during summer, with an impressive 300,000 minutes of reading logged last summer.

The club also discussed their Youth of the Year program for leadership development and introduced new career exploration tools like virtual reality technology. A proposal was put forward for the Boys and Girls Club to take over the Kidstop program, an after-school child care initiative, in partnership with Community Education. This program aims to provide diverse activities and extend operational hours to better accommodate families’ needs.

Attention then turned to the financial audit presentation by John Arch from Scher W and Company. The audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, received an “unmodified” or “clean” opinion, a positive shift from the previous year. However, the audit did uncover areas requiring attention, such as the prompt payment of bills and the handling of unclaimed property. Additionally, discrepancies in meal count submissions were noted, stemming from a recent change in the point-of-sale system. These findings, while not altering the audit’s opinion, highlighted the need for tighter controls and procedural improvements moving forward.

Financial discussions revealed a decrease of approximately 42 pupil units, impacting funding tied to enrollment numbers. Despite this, the district’s general fund balance showed a positive trend with an increase in the unassigned fund balance by $460,000, although it remained below the district’s policy floor of 5 to 7% of annual expenses. The audit also reported on the district’s cash balances and fund performances, noting a decrease in the building construction fund due to capital outlays and shifts in revenue sources for the Food Service fund.

A key part of the meeting was the approval of the revised 2024-2025 budget, detailing a proposed revenue increase of $882,000. This included new funding from a voluntary pre-kindergarten program grant and increases in special education and federal aid. The budget also outlined increased expenditures, notably for services, supplies, and equipment, with plans to address challenges like declining enrollment and limited state funding.

The board also addressed compliance matters, approving the pay equity report to ensure fair wages within the district. An agreement with the Morrison County Interagency Coordinating Council (MCICC) was also renewed. Other approvals included an updated senior list, staff lane changes, revised committee assignments, and a new board remuneration structure.

Additionally, the board considered two draft options for the 2025-2026 school calendar, ultimately approving a version that included time off on December 22nd and 23rd. Discussions of board member activities highlighted engagement in events like “I Love to Read” month, and the potential for outdoor space utilization at Lincoln School was explored.