LYND — As the Lynd Public School District faces current financial challenges, community members addressed the board Monday night to voice their thoughts and concerns.

Popular topics from the public included financial transparency and questions regarding recent staffing decisions.

The room packed up quickly with staff and community members to observe and participate in the public forum. Around nine people were welcomed to speak to the board during the public forum session, and were held to a three-minute speaking time.

At the end of the meeting, the board approved a list of action items to begin cost-saving measures, including the elimination of the superintendent and principal positions, and making a one full-time superintendent-principal position, along with a dean of students position in replacement. There will also be cuts to the custodial, technology and social and emotional learning budgets.

“The board values public input and recognizes the importance of allowing community members the opportunity to be heard,” school board chair Suzie Rauch said. “Public forum is intended to provide the opportunity for individuals to address the board in an open and orderly manner, while also respecting the legal rights and privacy protections of students and staff.”

Those wanting to address the board in the public forum were asked to notify the superintendent office prior to the meeting, as Rauch cited Lynd Public School Adopted Policy 206, revised in 2017, regarding public forum expectations.

“The board is present to listen. Board members will not engage in debate, respond to questions or comments on allegations or personnel matters during the public forum,” Rauch said.

Budget challenges

In a social media post on April 16, Lynd Public School shared with the public that the district is currently facing financial challenges and will be looking at cost-saving measures. The district cited the expiration of federal funds, declining enrollment, rising operational costs and limited revenue growth regarding reasons for the financial pressure.

“If we make no changes, if we continue as is, as we are currently spending, and we don’t look at anything, one, it would be irresponsible for us to do that,” Superintendent Misty Riebel told the Independent in late April following the public announcement of the financial challenges. “But two, if we go so far into debt, like using up our fund balance, then the state looks in and you’re considered to be in statutory operating debt, which would be in the 2027 school year, is what it’s projected.”

Riebel noted that the district’s goal is to reduce approximately $400,000 over the next two years in expenditures, as current enrollment and projection funds stand.

“We’ve been talking about these conversations since November and in December, when we talked about truth and taxation, when we talked through with our auditors. We’ve been having conversations,” Riebel said. “We have worked with our financial advising team to create a budget projection model that we can project out the next five years. Through that, we’re really able to see that transparency of how we need to shape our fiscal budget over the next couple of years, so we can be fiscally responsible.”

Riebel also touched on the 2025-26 school year revised budget at Monday’s meeting during the treasurer’s report.

“(We) have been working over the last few weeks on the revised budget to reflect what has been spent or what has come in. The numbers are for expenditures, $3,654,607, and then the revenues coming in were $3,377,592, which still has a deficit of $277,015. It is approximately $50,000 less than what the original deficit was when we had started the school year up on July 1,” Riebel said Monday.

Fiscal years for school districts begin on July 1 and run through June 2026.

Public forum

The public voiced their thoughts to the school board regarding questions on proceeding forward with the financial challenges, and spoke on their relationships with the school and staff.

A handful of community members raised questions regarding how Lynd School principal Jason Swenson and school nurse Bev Seehusen were allegedly dismissed and placed on administrative leave in the middle of April. Lynd staff noted they were notified of the news by the district due to an “impending investigation,” but did not receive further information.

“The recent decision to place the principal and school nurse on leave has also raised serious questions,” Karisa Varpness, parent of a Lynd student, said in her forum. “While investigations may be necessary in some circumstances, the reasoning and communication surrounding these actions have not been cleared to the community.”

“I’m here in support of Jason Swenson. Mr. Swenson had put his heart and soul into the school. He is easy to talk to and he is very approachable,” Peggy Sik, community member, added. “When there’s a problem, he seems to be always upbeat, and the kids seem to love him. I’ve watched him shed tears as he talks about his kids after school. I feel that he’s done a great job as a principal, and that a great injustice has been done unto him.”

A few people also spoke to the board regarding the allotted time they were given to speak — three minutes — and stated their desire to have anyone in attendance that is interested in participating in the public forum to be able to do so, without needing to notify the office ahead of time.

Board Vice Chair Ryan Rathman noted expectations had been set prior to the forum, and reaffirmed to the crowd that the school board doesn’t engage in debate or response during a public forum.

“Everybody sitting up here is committed,” he said.

A few people touched on their belief and love for the Lynd school, in regards to approaching the budget challenges.

“Lynd has been a community, and that’s why I’m here. Because right now, the sense of trust and community has shaken … Just think of this, 70% of the student population here is open enrolled. Families like mine choose to be here. We are not required to stay. We stay because we believe in the school, community, staff and experiences our children get to have,” Annie Adelmann said, a parent of a Lynd student. “But, when that trust is broken, that choice becomes a question … I should not have to fight for clear communication.”

“I want to tell you that the reason my daughter became a student here was because when we moved to the house in the park next door, we were told this was a hidden gem, and I am telling you that is what it is,” Varpness added. “There’s significant frustration that major financial decisions and proposed cuts were made without holding meetings to gather our input, transparency and community involvement are essential. Many feel that their voices are not being given an opportunity to be heard before impactful changes were set in motion.”

Varpness added that there is a widespread frustration amongst the school community regarding no teacher contracts and decisions regarding wages, stating that “We have priorities.”

The staff in attendance were also sporting shirts that detailed, “Never underestimate a public school educator.”

“State funding hasn’t kept up the price of inflation, which we all have been impacted by,” Sylvia Patton, community member, said. “This issue isn’t unique to Lynd Public School. You’ve all heard the words of other local schools.”

Lisa LeClere, another parent of a Lynd student, voiced to the board regarding the art department when it comes to cost-saving measures.

“A lot of times, a lot of our art programs get cut. There’s so many studies on the value of our art programs … Having what we have, shop for example, that’s amazing to have access to. You don’t get that anywhere else. That’s precious, and those programs are worth fighting for,” LeClere said. “It is likely that our other students are battling their own traumas and facing their own fears. The benefits of doing those programs, the shop, the art, the music, the band, all of those things, it brings healing to you.”

“I’m asking you to take a step back, look at what has happened, and make meaningful changes,” Adelmann said. “Because families are paying attention, and families like mine are the reason the school continues to exist and thrive.”

The district’s response

In a response to the Independent on Tuesday following the board meeting, Rauch noted that, on behalf of the school board and district administration, “We want to assure our constituents that we take these matters seriously.”

“The district is committed to transparency regarding its finances,” Rauch said. “Information related to funding, accounts, audits and projections is public information and available to anyone who would like to review it. These topics are also discussed regularly during public board meetings. In addition, the district undergoes regular financial audits, and school funding is subject to state oversight.”

Rauch also cited that while Lynd is facing financial struggles, the administration is working “proactively” to address the financial pressures, with keeping students’ education as the top priority,

Regarding Swenson and Seehusen’s administrative leave, Rauch detailed that “There is no additional information I am able to share publicly at this time. The district is required to follow the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, including Minnesota Statutes section 13.43, which governs private personnel data. While we understand this may be frustrating, the district must follow the law.”

In term’s of community member’s expressed frustration with the format of the board’s public forum, Rauch said the board did recognize the concerns that were expressed regarding participation procedures and communication. While noting Policy 206 “currently allows the Board to establish reasonable time limitations for public comment,” she also assured that “Following last night’s meeting, the board recognizes there may be areas within the policy and procedures that could benefit from further review and clarification moving forward.”

Actions taken

Following the public forum, the board approved four actions to begin saving costs.

For administrative restructure, the board made an approval to eliminate the superintendent and principal position at the end of the school year, and will be changing the roles to a full-time superintendent-principal position. There will also be a full-time dean of student position created. The board noted this measure will save approximately $20,000.

Rauch and Rathman affirmed this is approval of a position, and the school is not actively searching for candidates for either position at this time.

“I think it’s important for everybody here to understand something, that this has been ongoing for quite some time. This isn’t new,” Rathman said. “The concept of sharing superintendents has been looked at numerous times. We’ve gone over the numbers on this. We are strictly looking at this from a position.”

The board also approved restructuring of the SEL department to save about $23,000, technology expenditure reductions for the next school year to save around $15,000, and making custodial reductions to save about $17,000 in costs.

The board did take a recess for a few minutes following the public forum before proceeding on with the meeting, as tension did grow across the room.

School districts are to have budgets in for the next school year by July 1. The Lynd school board will host another meeting on June 8 at 6 p.m. at the school.