Duluth Public Schools to Make Cuts After Failed Referendum

Duluth Public School officials say they need to make millions more in budget cuts after failing to pass a referendum earlier this year.

The referendum would have given the district $5.2 million each year for the next 10 years if it had passed. The measure failed on the 2023 November ballot by about 300 votes, and failed again in May by about 450 votes. Funding from the referendum would have gone towards classroom technology, digital infrastructure, and security measures. The property tax bump would have been about $10 per month for a home worth $300,000.

When the measure failed in May, Duluth Public Schools officials said they needed to reduce the budget by over $2.5 million for this school year. The most likely place to make those cuts would have been in staffing. According to a Northern News Now report, nearly 85% of the district’s budget goes towards employee salary and benefits.

On Monday, school officials announced that in addition to the $2.6 million cut from this year’s budget, they need to cut about $5 million from next year’s budget. To do that, there will be an 8% reduction in current staffing budgets, a 10% reduction in District Service Center staffing budgets, and a 3.5% reduction in the Special Education Care and Treatment department budget.

Officials say they will not make definite decisions on the expected layoffs until December after seeking a recommendation from the board. Superintendent John Magas says their goal is to minimize disruptions to students with a smaller staff.