News

The Litchfield School Board has approved of a resolution to discontinue and reduce certain educational programs and positions. Resolutions were also approved last night relating to the nonrenewal of the teacher contract of a probationary teacher; and proposing an unrequested leave-of-absence.

Last month, Business Manager Jesse Johnson suggested that a specific number of cuts be made to the next budget amounting to $514,399. No specific programs or positions were mentioned publicly during last night’s meeting; however, the staff and programs affected have now been notified and the list includes:

Program reductions: Total: $80,012
LEAPS Summer Program at Lake Ripley
Summer School at LMS
Summer School/Night School at LHS
Band Overloads at LMS
Overtime – reduction of total numbers approved for the year
Staff Development – reduction of outside speakers and more efficiency in approvals
Summer Hours for Staff reduced by 20%

Personnel reductions: Total: $256,287
2 Lunchroom Supervisors at Lake Ripley
1 Paraprofessional at Lake Ripley
1 Classroom Teacher at Lake Ripley
1 Student Success Coordinator at LMS
.6 Reduction in Foreign Language at both LMS and LHS
1 Student Success Assistant at the LHS
2 Assistant FCCLA Advisors
1 Assistant VB Coach
3 Summer Custodians (Student Workers)

Additional Anticipated Cost savings for the 2025-26 SY: Total: $178,100
FACS Retirement and replacement
Summer hours for Construction House
Marching Band Transportation
Reducing Curriculum Purchases

Also last night, the Litchfield School Board approved of authorizing the administration to seek bids for a sun room project at Lake Ripley Elementary School. The sun room would help students with unique needs.

The Meeker County Extension Master Gardeners and Horticulture Society Gardener’s Gala is on Thursday, March 27th from 5-to-8:30 p.m. at the Church of St. Philip in Litchfield. If you register by March 14th, the cost is $10, otherwise it’s $20 at the door.

Master Gardener Connie Johnson says there will be two speakers during the event – Laura Irish-Hanson, who will speak about climate-ready gardening; and LeAnne Lund, who will have tips for cut flower growing. She says Lund sells cut flowers from her farm, south of Grove City, all over the nation; and Irish-Hanson is a University of Minnesota Extension Horticulturist who has an office at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and will have tips for growing flexibility to adapt to our changing climate.

Johnson says there will also be a quilt silent auction during this year’s Gardener’s Gala. She says if you have ideas for future topics, let them know. For more information, call the Extension office at 693-5275.

Minnesota’s 1,776 townships will hold their annual meetings on Tuesday, March 11th. Known as Township Day, these annual meetings are held every year on the second Tuesday in March and sets townships apart from other forms of local government.

At this meeting, residents of the townships will meet to voice their opinions about local issues with other township residents and also vote directly on their annual tax levy. Citizens attending annual meetings also often discuss and vote on other local issues.

Many of the state’s townships will hold their township officer elections on Tuesday’s Township Day. You can find the location and time by checking the published notice in the local newspaper, township website, or by contacting your township clerk.