During our regular School Board meeting, scheduled at 5:15 pm, Monday, December 10, the School District will host two required public hearings.  The first hearing is the annual Internet Safety hearing.  The School District will report on the the precautions taken to ensure we have systems in place to restrict access to internet websites that are not appropriate for students.  

The final hearing is on Taxes Payable 2019, and will begin at 6 pm. School District Business Manager Mark Masten will review the Proposed Taxes Payable 2019 Levy. The September estimated contained an error – the correct amount for the proposed levy is a increase of 9.75% for fiscal year 2019-2020.

As taxpayers review their proposed taxes for 2019 they are noticing the school’s portion is increasing dramatically.  Last September the school board set the proposed property tax levy at the “maximum”, which increased property taxes by 14.7%.  This action by the school board provided time for reviewing the levy and to make adjustments prior to the final property tax levy being set on December 10th.  There are three major reasons for the large increase:

First, property values within the school district boundaries increased 5.24%.  The change in property valuation added $289,800 in property taxes. 

Second, a keypunch error resulted in 3314 students being used in the tax calculations versus 3014.  This error was not corrected in time before the printing of the proposed tax statements.  This error increased property taxes by $325,600.  The school board has the opportunity to correct this error on December 10th when the tax levy is finalized.  

Third, the school district requested and received approval from the Department of Education to increase the lease levy from $252,500 to $463,000.  This levy will expand the preschool program and partner with Children’s Corner to create a childcare center with an educational component.  The levy is used for the school district’s portion of this project.

A Facebook post on Friday, December 7 stated a concern with school lunches and follow-up posts questioned the use the Otter Angel account at the Fergus Falls Public Schools. The post was concerned that the meal consisted of an undercooked chicken leg and two carrots along with a claim that meals were better at the Kennedy Secondary School than they are at the ALC.  I would like to clarify this concern to make sure the public is informed on meal choices and options, preparation requirements, and the Otter Angel Account.

The meal choices last Friday, at both the ALC and the Kennedy Secondary School, were Chicken Drumstick, Chicken Patty, Spicy Chicken Patty, Ham or Turkey on Bun, Grab & Go Salad, or the Grab & Go Wrap or the Otter Value Meal – cheeseburger, pizza, corn dog, popcorn chicken or softshell taco.  Students also had access to the veggie/fruit bar where students serve themselves. Our District staff encourages students to take the vegetables and fruits available each day. 

All meals are prepared to strict health standards. The chicken leg was cooked to a verified 180 degrees and to the point of falling off the bone. Because chicken legs vary in size, some students receive two chicken legs in order to obtain at least 4.16 ounces required by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Fergus Falls School District, and schools around the nation, are required to follow these guidelines.

The Fergus Falls Public Schools are committed to providing healthy, nutritious and quality meals to all of our students. Please contact our Food Service Director, Lance Wells, at 998-0544 x9754 or Superintendent Jerry Ness at x9010, if you have comments or concerns.

We continue to thank the community for supporting the Otter Angel Account, an account that pays for school meals for students who have no money in their lunch account. As of December 7th, the Otter Angel account has been used 447 times since September 4, 2018, an average of seven students per day. In Minnesota, students who qualify for free or reduced meals eat for free; therefore, they have no need to access the Otter Angel Account. 

Fergus Falls Public Schools would like thank the generous donations to our students from the Church of the Nazarene (Fergus Falls) for their donation of $8,000 to support students from financially struggling families. $5,000 of the funds will be designated towards purchase of winter gear for students and $3,000 will be designated towards the Otter Angel Account.  

We would also like to thank West Central Initiative for their donation from the Inga M. Johnson endowment of $3,000 to the Otter Angel Account; American Crystal Sugar for their donation of $1,587 to purchase a TIG welder for the Fergus Falls High School’s Modern Manufacturing Learning Lab; and for the numerous instruments donated to our band program. 

The District would also like to thank Minnesota Motors for paying the admission for everyone at all of our home games on December 4 – gymnastics vs Morris, girls hockey vs Alexandria; girls basketball vs Detroit Lakes, and the high school band concert on December 3 and the choir concert on December 10.

After December 10th’s article, “Ethiopian Prophet Demissie Visits Fergus Falls,” appeared in the Daily Journal, questions from the community arose why the District would allow this event in the auditorium. District Policy #902 encourages the use of school facilities by community groups that have as their objective the development of personal character and civic welfare. To be eligible for use of school facilities, community groups must be established within the school district boundaries and composed primarily of residents of the school district. Abundant Life Assembly Church of Fergus Falls rented the auditorium to host the event mentioned in the article. 

The Fergus Falls School District’s citizens voted to build the school with its 1200 seat auditorium in the late 1960s. Countless concerts and other large events sponsored by community groups have been held in this wonderful facility. 

The Fergus Falls Boys’ Swimming and Diving Invitational Tournament was officially renamed the Tom Uvaas Otter Invite!  Congratulations Tom on an honor well deserved!!  Also, congratulations to the Otters for winning the invite on Saturday, December 8.

Positive Audit

Eide Bailly completed the audit for Independent School District No. 544 Fergus Falls Public Schools for fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.  After the second reading, the School Board approved the audit at their December 10, 2018 School Board meeting.  The full audit report is located on the School District’s website at www.fergusotters.org

In Eide Bailly’s opinion, the financial statements in the audit report present fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position of the governmental activities, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information of the District, as of June 30, 2018, and the respective changes in financial position and the respective budgetary comparison for the general fund for the year then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

General Fund revenues were $30,468,979 while expenditures totaled $30,348,100, increasing fund 

balance by $120,879. The Food Service Fund revenues were $1,234,403 while expenditures totaled $1,163,063, increasing fund balance by $71,340. The Community Service Fund revenues were $1,016,557 while expenditures totaled $858,696, increasing fund balance by $157,861. The Debt Service Fund revenues were $3,195,791 while expenditures were $3,123,645, increasing fund balance by $72,146 before other financing sources and uses.

According to the Minnesota Department of Education’s “School Profile” information, out of 499 school districts and charter schools in the State of Minnesota reporting data for 2017 Fergus Falls Public Schools is ranked:

Capital Asset and Debt Administration

By the end of 2018, the District had invested $68,306,160 in a broad range of capital assets, including school buildings, athletic facilities, computer and technology related equipment. Total depreciation expense for the year was $1,323,272.

Our students and our staff take the gift of giving seriously, especially around the holidays. Our staff has collected personal funds and shared with students and charity organizations. Students have raised funds through Penny Wars and collected items through food drives, Toys for Tots, and Presents for Pets. I have seen many, many displays of caring for others...our staff and students resemble our community – very generous, thoughtful and compassionate!  Happy Holidays from the staff and students at Fergus Falls Public Schools!