our challenges

Financial instability is impacting student learning

Albany Area Schools has a long history of student excellence and a community that is willing to support great schools and invest in our students’ futures. But the rising cost of education, uncertain funding and declining enrollment are straining our ability to deliver the quality education we strive for.

An increasingly competitive educational environment has led to fewer resources for students and rising pressure on class sizes.

A pie chart showing that Albany Area Schools is the bottom 8% of Minnesota school districts.

We rank 303 out of 329 Minnesota school
districts in per-pupil funding

Albany Area Schools receives less per-pupil funding than roughly 92% of districts in the state. In the past year alone, we cut more than $1 million from our budget — including administrative, staff and teaching positions, bus routes, and contracts. Without the proposed operating levy, we expect to cut an additional $2 million from our annual budget next year, and those cuts are expected to grow in future years.

Icons representing a diploma or certification, American football, and a person working on a laptop.

Our students are a point of pride in our community

The students at Albany Area Schools model excellence in academics, athletics and music. Our dedicated staff, academic programming and wide range of opportunities give students the support they need to grow, thrive, and be ready for life after graduation. Our community takes pride in our students and wants to see our schools continue to be the best in the area. With additional revenue, we could continue to provide a sturdy foundation for student achievement.

Indoor gymnasium with multiple volleyball courts and players practicing volleyball. Overhead, basketball hoops are mounted on the ceiling. A black cart filled with volleyballs is in the foreground on the left side. The gym has a high ceiling with mul
Children climbing on an indoor bouldering wall with purple holds, supervised by adults, in a gymnasium.
A group of young women standing on a soccer field in front of a goal, with soccer balls at their feet, facing a row of trees and houses in the background on a sunny day.
A young boy with glasses writing on a clipboard at a table with an adult man helping. There are school supplies, including a red container with yellow and orange markers, in the foreground. The classroom has posters and a colorful list of colors on a
A young child wearing a yellow apron and shirt is painting a purple heart on a whiteboard with a large green and yellow marker. The child is focused on the drawing and has one hand on the whiteboard for support. There are clear plastic containers fil

What happens if the referendum doesn’t pass?

If the operating levy fails, the district will make $2 million in cuts to student services and educational programming ahead of the 2027-28 school year. These cuts would drastically change the way Albany Area Schools delivers education, and the impact would be felt across all our schools and among all teachers, staff and students.

  • Fewer teacher and staff positions

  • Larger class sizes

  • Reduced curriculum and programming at all grade levels

  • Less academic support and fewer counseling services

We can’t cut our way to long-term success.

Our students represent the future of our community, and funding support from our community will support our efforts to continue preparing the next generation of critical thinkers and lifelong learners.

See our Plan