Hermantown School Board Approves of $750K in Budget Cuts for Next School Year

March 12, 2025

Drew Kerner,

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Hermantown Community Schools is slashing next year’s budget by $750,000, and 6 position are being eliminated.

On Monday night’s school board meeting, the school board unanimously approved of budget which looks to cut $730,000 for the 2025-26 school year.

Cuts include:

Two retirements ($60K)
Eliminate summer days for media specialists ($3K)
High School Social Studies attrition ($131K)
High School Business Teacher ($75K)
Eliminate 1 assistant track coach ($3K)
Foreign Language German ($57K)
Middle & High School Math reduction/reassignment ($55K)
Elementary & Middle School intervention position ($30K)
Reduce 2 paraprofessionals at Elementary School ($66K)
Reduce 1 playground paraprofessional ($12K)
Reduce curriculum budget ($50K)
Reduce capital equipment budget ($18K)
Reduce technology budget ($50K)
Reduce contracted services for maintenance ($60K)
Assign intervention time to American Indian Education ($20K)
Reduce outside services ($30K)

Wayne Whitwam, the Superintendent of Hermantown Community Schools, sent a letter to parents of the Hermantown School District. In the letter, he states that Hermantown isn’t the only school facing these budget problems.

“A majority of schools across the state are struggling financially. Hermantown is fortunate to have a fund balance, but if we choose to not make cuts, our fund balance will be completely gone in four years and major reductions would still be needed. The School Board will vote to cut $750K for the 2025-26 school year and we project cutting $450K the following two years in order to balance our finances,” wrote Whitman.

In the last two school years, Hermantown Community Schools gave their teachers a 6% and a 4% increase in salary to retain staff and offer competitive wages.

Last year, the school district had unfilled positions in paraprofessionals, custodians, food service, bus drivers, and substitute teachers. The district were able to retain staffing then by giving an approximate $2/hour raise in those unfilled positions.

The superintendent says a lack of state funding has left schools underfunded.