THE PLAN

How will the Operating Levy Affect Student Learning

The school board voted unanimously to ask voters to consider an operating levy that would give the district $700 more per student each year; about $522,000 more each year for the district. If approved, the levy would raise $1,050,000 a year for 10 years, starting with taxes paid in 2027.

Protecting Our Schools

The proposed operating levy would help sustain the teachers, programs, and services that create exceptional opportunities for every student's success.

Maintain current classes & programs

Retain shop & trade classes

Provide student services & supports

Continue hands-on activities like FFA (Future Farmers of America) & BPA (Business & Professionals Association)

Recruit & retain quality teachers & staff

To prepare all students for future success in college, the military, or a job after graduation.

This levy is not about adding new programs or expanding facilities.

This referendum will protect the strong academics and programs that Benson Public Schools has worked hard to grow.

Points of Pride

EARLY LEARNING FOR FUTURE SUCCESS

Strong futures start early. The first five years are when children build the foundation for everything that follows. Benson Public Schools offers care from 6 weeks old through toddler, preschool, and VPK, so families can count on quality early learning right here in our community. Benson's VPK program gives 4-year-olds their first full-day school experience, helping them learn school routines and expectations through a social-emotional curriculum, and kindergarten readiness skills with a licensed teacher.

Research backs up what Benson families already see. High-quality preschool helps children succeed in their first years of school and narrows the early achievement gap, and long-term studies of quality programs have found up to $17 in social benefits for every dollar invested.

Early learning also strengthens our whole community. Reliable, quality child care supports local businesses by giving parents care they can count on, while a lack of it makes it harder for employers to recruit skilled workers.

Sustaining High-Quality Schools Despite Rising Costs

Everything costs more, and schools feel it too. Families across Benson know the feeling. Groceries, gas, utilities, and insurance all cost more than they did a few years ago. Schools face the same pressures. The costs of heating buildings, running buses, buying classroom supplies, and paying the people who teach and care for our students keep going up.

But the money schools receive from the state hasn't kept pace. Had Minnesota's per-student funding grown with inflation since 2003, it would be $9,199 per student in 2027. Instead, it falls $1,516 short, a gap of nearly 20%. Year after year, that gap means Benson must do more with less.

Benson has already cut more than $1 million from its budget over the past three years, including $300,000 this school year. The proposed operating levy would help close the gap by providing $700 more per student each year, helping Benson:

  • Keep pace with rising costs

  • Protect strong academics and student programs

  • Retain and recruit quality staff

  • Reduce the need for future cuts

Building Strong Readers from the Start

Every student's success begins with reading. Reading is the skill that unlocks every other subject. That's why Benson elementary teachers have completed extensive training in literacy, grounded in the science of how children learn to read. They use proven, structured approaches that teach sounds, phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension step by step, so every child builds a solid foundation.

This work matters. Statewide, more than 54% of Minnesota third graders are not meeting grade-level reading standards. Minnesota's READ Act now calls for evidence-based reading instruction in every school, and Benson teachers have put in the work to deliver it, helping students become confident readers early and catching those who need extra help before they fall behind.

Strong readers become strong learners - in all subject areas.

Preparing Students for Their Futures

Preparing Braves for tomorrow begins with meaningful learning today.

Students need opportunities to build skills, solve real problems, work as a team, and explore the careers that fit them best. Benson Public Schools offers hands-on learning that helps students build the knowledge, skills, and confidence they will carry into college, the military, or a job after graduation through:

  • Shop and trades classes

  • FFA and BPA

  • E-sports

  • College-credit opportunities, with students earning up to 55 credits before graduation

The proposed operating levy would help maintain these programs and the opportunities that prepare Benson students for whatever comes next.

Supporting Every Learner

Every Brave deserves the support they need to succeed.

No two students learn exactly the same way. Benson Public Schools provides a range of supports designed to meet individual needs every day, from extra help in reading and math to services that support students' social, emotional, and mental well-being.

Some students need additional academic help, specialized instruction, or someone to talk to in order to reach their full potential. 

The proposed operating levy would help maintain the staff, programs, and services that support students every day, including:

  • Reading and math intervention

  • Social-emotional and mental health support

  • Specialized instruction for students with individual needs

  • Manageable class sizes so teachers can give students the attention they need

Without additional operating revenue, the district could face higher class sizes and fewer student supports. By helping maintain these services, Benson can continue meeting the needs of every student, in good years and hard ones.

Great Schools Begin with Great Teachers & Staff

Every day, Benson teachers and staff show up for our Braves learners. They are consistent in the lives of all students - in good years and hard ones. They build strong relationships, inspire curiosity, and help every student grow academically and personally.

The proposed operating levy would help Benson Public Schools:

  • Recruit and retain quality teachers and staff

  • Maintain strong classroom instruction

  • Support the dedicated staff who know our students by name

  • Protect the strong academics Benson families expect

Behind every successful Brave is a dedicated teacher making a difference. Strong schools begin with supporting the people who make learning possible every day.

Strong schools help rural communities attract and retain families and develop the local workforce. Benson Public Schools provides quality education, childcare, career and technical training, college-credit opportunities, and opportunities for students to prepare for their future. When families choose where to live, they look at the schools. When businesses look at where to grow, they look at the people who live there. Strong schools ensure a strong future for the Benson community.

Sources: MN State Demographic Center, City of Benson Community Assessment