Tough budget decisions ahead for East Grand Forks (Minn.) school district
A preliminary list of proposed budget reductions generated an intense board discussion as well as comments from the public at the April 13 meeting of the East Grand Forks school board.
The result of the discussion was to reduce the proposed budget cuts from $1,139,032 to about $850,000. More specific information about the remaining cuts will be brought to a special meeting next Monday, April 20, at 5:30 p.m.
Superintendent Kevin Grover brought the proposal to the board after working for the past several weeks with a committee of administrators and other staff along with the board’s finance committee.
The budget approved at the March 23 meeting for fiscal year 2027 projects a deficit of $1,151,467. Grover noted that reductions had already been made in that budget, mostly in postponing planned expenditures, but he added that more were needed.
As the board reviewed the proposal they all agreed that these were cuts they didn’t want to make and the options presented were not taken lightly. Among the items to be cut was the school resource officer; four elementary, two middle school and two high schoolteachers; a school social worker; the student services position; reducing one bus route;and eliminating three activities – speech and cross country for boys and girls.
East Grand Forks Mayor Mark Olstad addressed the board during the public comment portion of the meeting. He spoke on behalf of the school resource officer (SRO)partnership with the city and how beneficial it is for the security and safety of both students and staff. In the current partnership the city and the school share the cost of the SRO. Without that partnership any calls to the school would likely be referred to the regular patrol officer.
Several people spoke in support of retaining the speech program. Coaches, alumni and current speech students shared the positive effects the activity has had in their lives and the changes they’ve seen in students.
Josh Perkerewicz acknowledged what a tough decision it is to make the budget cuts. “These are not just numbers,” he said. “They’re people.”
But he added later that the board had a job to do for the long-term benefit of the school “and the future of our kids.”
“Except for the SRO . . . and one teacher, in order to be responsible, I’m ok with all of these cuts. I know it’s not popular. It doesn’t necessarily have to be forever.”
Matt Hangsleben said he approached the list by trying to remove as many items as possible. He specifically mentioned the SRO, two teachers, the social worker and maybe a paraprofessional.
Holly Larson, who is an administrator in another school district, expressed concernsabout losing the SRO and the social worker and the effects on students. She specifically asked about the student services position, “Who is going to do that work?”
However, she added that her position is going to be to trust the work of the committee and that “you are administrators in the district and you made the right decision.”
Board members continued to weigh in with opinions as they worked through the list and received clarifications from Grover.
In the end the board approved the budget reductions without the social worker reduction, without one teacher reduction, without the SRO reduction and without the activity reductions. The committee will bring more specific recommendations for action at the April 20 meeting.
Ice-Out Recorded on April 8 for Rainy River; Boat Activity Increases
The annual river watch is a spring occurrence in the Lake of the Woods area. Each year, anglers and area residents monitor updates from local sources as river ice conditions change.
In 2026, the Rainy River at Baudette was recorded as open on April 8 at 10:30 a.m. The official determination is made by the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Customs office in Baudette, marking the point when the river channel opens under the International Bridge.
Records of river openings date back to 1934. The earliest opening recorded at Baudette was March 11, 2000. An earlier date of February 28, 1998, was documented; however, the river refroze upstream to Birchdale and in Baudette by March 9, and did not reopen permanently until March 25 that year. The latest recorded opening date is April 20, which occurred in 1950.
Record-keeping began with Frank Berdan and was later maintained by Wilho Johnson and Norman Nielsen. For approximately 60 years, the responsibility has been handled by personnel from the United States Customs and/or Department of Homeland Security at the Baudette port of entry.
Boat activity has increased in the area, with vehicles transporting boats to launches east of Baudette. Boat ramps at Nelson Park in Birchdale, Frontier Landing, and Vidas Landing near Clementson are reported to be open and free of ice. Increased use of these landings is expected in the coming weeks as anglers target sturgeon.
The region offers world-class opportunities to catch sturgeon in spring and fall. The Rainy River is known for its population of "dinosaurs," which can exceed 60 inches. A report of a 77-inch sturgeon being caught on the river over the weekend was widely reported on social media. Catch and release season for sturgeon is on now. The harvest season in which you can keep one sturgeon per calendar year is from April 24 to May 7 and from July 1 to September 30. No sturgeon fishing is allowed from May 16 to June 30.
Ice fishing remains open at some spots on Lake of the Woods where more than 24" of ice remains, according to local reports. Sunday's rain deteriorated the conditions. The rain was accompanied by lightning and thunder. Walleye and sauger season on the main lake closes this week, on April 14.
Minnesota's fishing season for 2026 opens again on May 9, although many wonder if the ice will remain on the big lake by then.
