The proposed budget cuts for the 2020-2021 school year would total to roughly 2.9 million dollars, and 67% of the money is coming from instruction. This category includes reduction of teaching staff, closure of Discovery Elementary and Phoenix Learning Center, and elimination of programs like Quest, along with various other instructional opportunities like CIS classes and wRight Choice.

In addition, Buffalo Community Middle School would cut funding for every sport and activity at the school. The High School would lose four sports — Boys Swimming and Diving, Boys and Girls Lacrosse, and Dance Team.

These spending cuts would drastically change the school district. From increased class sizes to the elimination of programming, the district could look very different as soon as 2020.

Reduction of Teaching Staff

With 15 full-time employees (FTE) not returning for the 2019-2020 school year, and the potential of 22 more FTE positions being cut for the 2020-2021 school year, Buffalo High School, and many other schools in the district, would face huge repercussions.

“The high school houses a third of the teachers in the district, meaning that a third of the teachers cut would come from the high school, that’s about 7-8 teachers,” said Buffalo High School Principal Mark Mischke.

With the potential of 37 FTE positions being cut from the district in the next two years, this would have a huge impact on both students and teachers. Class sizes would rise, meaning there is less individual attention and instruction for students. Teachers would have to take on a heavier workload in order to support a higher amount of students in their classroom.

Closing Phoenix Learning Center

Phoenix Learning Center (PLC) is one of the schools set to be cut in the 2020-2021 school year if funding for the district is not found. PLC is a student-choice alternative high school that serves approximately 30 students in the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District. It also has 2.5 teachers and a .5 administrator position.

According to the district website, “Phoenix Learning Center offers an alternative program when the traditional high school setting does not work for a student. Recognizing that there are many pathways for a student to succeed, staff offer personalized learning options in a family-like setting.”

The PLC gives students the opportunity to approach school from a different perspective, while still requiring them to work hard and to be accountable for their work. According to the BHM Website, the loss of the PLC could result in “at risk” students who “struggle with anxiety [and] depression” without a setting that emphasizes “communication, accountability, respect, responsibility, [and] relationships.”

“Students attend Phoenix for small class sizes, more individualized attention from teachers to support learning, and to keep on track for graduation,” said Stephanie Ward, Principal of PLC. “Students attending Phoenix feel proud of their progress and growth in school [and] we all want to see [the] programs [set to be cut] maintained [so that] all students supported.”

Closing Discovery

Discovery Elementary School serves roughly 250 students from across the BHM school district It is a parent choice school that has multi-age, looping classrooms.  Parents enter their soon-to-be kindergartners into a lottery to decide who gets in, and if their child’s name is drawn they are given a spot along with their siblings.

“[At Discovery] our mission is to provide community connections and a focus on social, emotional, and intellectual development in a multi-age setting,” said Dr. Mathew Nelson, Principal of Discovery  “that gives our students authentic learning opportunities using creativity and critical thinking to prepare them for a changing world.”

They believe in “educating the“whole child,” by “having our Community “C’s” (Cooperate, Collaborate, Contribute, Considerate, Celebrate, Cheerful, Courageous, Creative and Care) infused throughout Discovery Elementary.”

“Students build character and find meaningful learning opportunities,” said Dr. Nelson, “that help them consistently perform above state averages.”

The upcoming 2020-2021 budget cuts would have “a HUGE impact on our families, staff, and most importantly- our students”. By closing Discovery, “ all of our elementary classrooms would have more students in them as a result of the reduction of teachers across the district.”

“We have such a great thing going on here at Discovery Elementary for our students,” said Dr. Nelson, “and we all want to see that continue.”

Eliminating Quest

Quest is a program for gifted students in grades 2-9, serving roughly 150 students, that provides a unique environment that helps them excel and where they are able to make deeper connections with other gifted students. In the upcoming 2020-2021 budget cuts, the Quest program is set to be eliminated. Students in this program would be forced into classes that do not meet their learning and emotional needs.  

“We’re very unique in the fact that we have a full-time program like this,” said Robert Nosbush, High Potential Services Coordinator.

There are districts around the state that are similar to the Quest Program for elementary schools only. But when they get to high school, their only options are enriched and CIS classes. Quest students learn differently than most students, putting them in general education would be an adjustment for both the students and the teacher.

“[Teachers] really have to always be on top of their game and you have to keep thinking of ways to challenge them,” Nosbush said.

The Quest program gives the students an enriched and accelerated curriculum, students in the Quest program learn at a faster pace than in the regular classroom setting. In addition, studies have shown that gifted students are at high risk for depression, anxiety, and even dropping out of high school.  The Quest Program is the only program like this where gifted students are given a full-time environment to suit their needs in the surrounding districts.

“We’re not really thinking of Plan B,” Nosbush said. “We’re assuming that this community is going to support [a potential levy].”

Eliminating wRight Choice and Reducing CIS Options

wRight Choice is an alternative to out-of-school suspension for Wright County students in grades 6-12. While at wRight Choice, students have the opportunity to do homework and receive academic support; watch presentations on issues like chemical health, public health, and children’s mental health; and participate in community service. Overall, wRight Choice strives helps students develop skills to make better decisions in the future. wRight Choice is based on a restorative model versus a punitive model of dealing with student behavior issues. It focuses on students making meaningful progress on setting right what they have done wrong or having a positive impact on the community.

CIS (College in the Schools) classes give students the unique opportunity to earn high school and college credits simultaneously. Buffalo High School currently offers 37 CIS classes in partnership with 5 universities across the state. CIS classes currently save families across the high school over 1.5 million dollars in tuition. In addition, CIS classes save the school money when students who may have previously enrolled in post-secondary options choose to stay at the high school.

Conclusion

Overall, the biggest educational budget cuts in place for the 2020-2021 school year is the loss of Discovery Elementary, the Quest Program, Phoenix Learning Center, wRight Choice, some of the CIS Classes offered by the high school, and a district-wide reduction in teaching staff.  These reductions will occur unless the community chooses to support additional funding in the form of a levy. The existing programs that are set to be cut offer students unique educational opportunities that are hard to be matched a regular learning environment.

The Lake Conference consists of the three biggest schools in the state: Wayzata, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie, all of which have enrollment of over 3,000 students, and Buffalo, enrollment of 1,865 students, will be joining this conference next year.

… but as a competitor, there is nothing better than this move.

Buffalo started to look for a new home after Rodgers and St. Michael-Albertville announced they were leaving the Mississippi 8 Conference. If you took those two schools out of the conference, Mississippi 8 was no longer a good conference for Buffalo. The M8 Conference would be left with St. Francis, Cambridge, Monticello, Princeton, Chisago Lakes, North Branch, and Big Lake.

“If you look at geographical relationship [how far away the school is] and compare enrollment size, it just isn’t logical for Buffalo to stay in the conference.” said Activities Director, Tom Bauman. On average, schools in the Lake Conference are 5 miles closer than schools to Buffalo than schools in Mississippi 8.

Rogers is joining the Northwest Suburban Conference next school year, and after this conference declined to let Buffalo and STMA join, the Lake Conference was the best option left.

Buffalo will go from being the second biggest school in its conference, to being the second smallest school. This means that Buffalo sports and activities will have to adjust their mindset next year.

“I hope we can embrace the underdog mentality next year”, said Bauman, “ Kids might even get enjoyment from being in this highly competitive conference.”

Brandon Maatz, junior on the varsity boy’s basketball team, said that he and his team are excited about the move. Their goal as a team remains the same: finish their season as conference champs, it will just be a harder road this year.

“With the change in conference from Mississippi 8 to the best basketball conference in the state [The Lake Conference], we will have to prepare harder than ever… but as a competitor, there is nothing better than this move,” said Maatz.

Information from Niche.com

From the very beginning of the season, freshman Antonio Bluiett has shown hard work and competitiveness on the basketball court. He worked hard in his off season to improve his skills and earn his spot on varsity for his freshman season.

During tryouts he was noticed right away for “how competitive he is, he is probably the most competitive person in this school” said Mr. Ortmann.

Having a freshman starter on a varsity team is uncommon, but not unprecedented. The Boys Basketball team coaches don’t label any kids based on their grade.

“We [the coaches] just put the ones [athletes] out that will give us the best chance of winning” said Head Coach Josh Ortmann.

Antonio has adjusted to playing on varsity extremely well, and the team has been very welcoming to him. He enjoys being apart of the varsity team, and fits in well. The team has the common goal of winning, and Antonio’s competitive mindset has helped him establish a strong bond with his teammates.

“He goes hard all the time on the court, and wants to win. He is a great teammate to have” said junior Brandon Maatz. 

Being on varsity comes with a high amount of pressure on the court. Antonio has done an amazing job on adjusting to this pressure and playing to his full potential on the court. The big crowds that attend the games can be very exciting and motivating.

His favorite thing about being on varsity basketball is “playing in front of the big crowds” said Antonio.

He has made a great impact on this team, by leading on the defensive end and bringing energy to the court.

“He has brought great defensive energy this year” said Coach Ortmann

Antonio has continuously worked hard to improve during the season, and is working on improving his offensive play. He has done a great job of learning and developing further skills in the point guard position.

This season has been an exceptional experience for Antonio. He has led the Boys Basketball team on the defensive end, and brought enormous energy to the court. With continued growth and confidence, he could have a huge impact on the team through leadership.

Photo by Alana Hartman, Tatanka Yearbook

The Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose school district has a yearly operating budget of fifty-five million dollars that must cover all spending for every schools’ needs. This includes teachers salaries, classroom supplies, and school necessities. Of this fifty-five million, about two percent goes to middle and high school activities. This two percent is about 1.1 million, and how it gets dispersed among all of the activities is determined by their individual fundamental needs.

A sport needs six different things in order to run, coaches, transportation, supplies, workers, referees, and general maintenance, and all these things cost money, but each sport has different needs. For example, cross country doesn’t need referees or much general maintenance. Football, on the other hand, needs all of the above six things in order for the sport to work. Therefore, it isn’t necessary for cross country to receive as much money as football.

A Booster Club plays an essential role in helping the activity run to its full potential. Booster clubs consist of parents, businesses, and community members who donate money, time, or supplies to support an activity. Although the activity would still be able to run without a booster club, they wouldn’t be nearly as effective.

“The Booster Club enhances the sport,” said Bauman.

For example, the school would supply the sport a school bus to go to an away game or meet, but the Booster Club might decide to pay for a coach bus in order to keep the kids comfortable on longer trips.

Some booster clubs are more effective than others though, and it simply boils down to the fact that some sports have more kids, therefore a wider reach to the community. Football and track and field have about 100 kids each, with 100 kids and their parents all fundraising, they are likely to raise more money than a sport with 30 kids.

Sports funding can become very controversial very fast.

“It is a controversial topic because people are uneducated [about it],” said Bauman.

Many people do not understand the whole concept of money management for school activities because of a lack of knowledge. This topic can frustrate many people because of the simple idea that  sports are not funded equally, but with good reason, as the money is dispersed logically. When people are more open to learning and accepting this fact, they can understand the idea of sports funding and what goes on behind the scenes.

Overall Bauman said that the BHM School district wants kids to have the best experience possible.

“We want kids to find a connection through traditional sports and other activities that they enjoy,” said Bauman.

This connects with the district’s motto of ‘doing what’s best for kids’. Through extreme consideration of every sports need, and how much money they require, the sports program is thriving.

Photos by Lilly Ragab and Alayna Mills, Tatanka Yearbook