Duluth Public Schools Announces Budget Reductions for 2026-2027 School Year

Duluth Public Schools has finalized a plan to address a $4 million budget gap for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. While rising costs for supplies, insurance, and specialized services have outpaced state and federal funding, our district remains committed to fiscal responsibility while keeping student learning at the forefront.

After months of data review and community collaboration, the district has approved a plan to reduce spending by approximately $4.2 million.

How Decisions Were Made 

We didn’t make these choices alone. We used several tools to guide us, including:

• Your Feedback: Insights from our recent ThoughtExchange with families and staff.
• School Data: Current enrollment numbers and registration trends.
• Expert Input: Feedback from principals, staff, and our School Board.

Prioritizing the Classroom

Based on feedback from our families and staff through channels like ThoughtExchange, we prioritized classrooms by moving to take a significantly larger percentage of cuts — over 15% — from the district level. Despite these efforts, some classroom impacts will occur.

• District Level: Reduced by an estimated $1,249,000 (15.61%).
• Middle & High Schools: Reduced by an estimated $1,781,500 (5.8%).
• Elementary Schools: Reduced by an estimated $1,258,000 (4.1%).

What This Means for Staff 

We know our staff members are the heart of our schools. In April, we will begin the process of "displacing" some staff, which means moving certain positions or changing assignments. It is important to know that displacement is not always the same as a layoff. We are working hard to avoid layoffs by using openings created by upcoming retirements.

Staying Informed 

We are committed to transparency throughout this process. Find more information, documents, and future updates on our dedicated budget page:

• Website: isd709.org/budget
• ThoughtExchange Results
  • Staff Thoughts Report Top 20
  • Parent/Guardian Thoughts Report Top 20
  • Student Thoughts Report

We know this news can be unsettling. We are committed to being open with you as we move through this transition. If you would like to learn more, please join us for our upcoming public meetings:

• School Board Meeting: March 24 at 6:30 p.m.
• Committee of the Whole Meeting: April 7 at 4:30 p.m.
• Watch Online: youtube.com/@DuluthSchools/streams

Below is a one-page high level overview of the budget changes. Once the displacement process is complete, we will share a comprehensive list of reductions.

2026-27 Budget Proposed Reductions