Parents, guardians and MCC community members: The end of another school year is upon us! With just over a week left at the time of this writing, it is hard to believe we are at graduation time again. Our 53 graduating seniors of the class of 2025 will walk across the stage on Sunday, May 25th at 2:00 p.m. I would like to wish our graduating seniors congratulations and best wishes in their future endeavors. I would also like to thank all of those individuals who supported them along the way to reach this milestone in their lives.
Now that we are planning for graduations, year-end projects, finals and other celebrations; it reminds us that the summer break is indeed near. As we finish the 2024-25 school year, I want to thank everyone for the many ways that you support your school District. Your continued support directly affects the students in a positive way. Our students inspire and make us proud every day. Their efforts and accomplishments are proof of the dedication of our parents, staff and communities. Murray County Central has benefited greatly from our families and communities. We also have benefited from the many volunteers over the years that are a vital part of the education system at MCC. We thank all of you!
As the 2024-2025 school year comes to a close, we are actively preparing for the start of school for 2025-2026. Our back to school registration will take place completely online again for 2025-26. The first day of school next year will be on Tuesday, September 2nd for grades 7-12 and Thursday September 4th for grades K-6. A major schedule change for next year will be the fact that we are adding 12 minutes to each day of the school year which adds up to 5 full days over the course of the year that will be eliminated at the end of the year. Our scheduled last day of school next year will be May 19, 2026. School will start at 8:00 a.m. and dismiss at 3:12 p.m. each day. The approved calendar can be found on the district website.
As you are all aware, the 4-day school week application was denied by the MN Department of Education. One of the reasons we were exploring this option was to help reduce operational costs. We have since had to cut 5 FTE positions/staff, cut some games/programming in the extra-curricular area, reduce some hours from hourly staff and overloads, cut some transportation time, and increase some fees for services. These cuts equate to approximately $365,000. It also means some larger class sizes in the high school and additional workload for existing employees to make up for the cuts in staffing. At the May 12, 2025 regular school board meeting, the school board discussed the possibility of looking at increasing our operating referendum to help increase revenue. There will be much more information regarding this sent out in upcoming weeks. An increase in funds requires voter approval.
We are finalizing our fiscal year 2026 budgets amid uncertainty about state and federal funding. Around 80% of our district budget goes toward personnel costs. We always try to avoid cuts that impact the classroom but there is only so much that we can do. Most Minnesota school districts are facing budget shortfalls and potential cuts or dipping into their reserves. The state legislature is proposing several millions is cuts to education. This coupled with state funding not keeping up with inflation, unfunded or underfunded mandates, federal cuts to education, and stable or declining enrollment all factor into the budget shortfalls. Check out this short video regarding Minnesota School Funding to get a more in depth look at how our schools are funded.
No matter what decisions have to be made, we are always looking out for the best interest of our students to help drive this decision making process. We will build upon our strengths, examine current practices and make changes necessary to move the district forward. Preparation for the future includes initiatives and plans to keep our students’ academic performance high through our ongoing strategic planning process, which is the blueprint to improve the quality of education for MCC students.
As stakeholders, you trust that the school board and administration not only ensure a high-quality education for all students but that we are also responsible stewards of your tax dollars. Your continued support of the district propositions over the years and of our strategic planning initiatives confirms your belief in us. We collectively pledge to continue our efforts of financial transparency and accountability to you.
On behalf of the school board, the administration, the faculty, and our support staff, we thank you for your continued interest in our efforts. Parental and community support are hallmarks of a healthy school system. Thank you and have a great summer!