Blue Earth Area Middle School

What Minnesota Voters Need to Know About the School Fund Amendment on the 2026 Ballot

When Minnesotans head to the polls this November, they will see a constitutional amendment designed to send more money to local public schools - without raising taxes.

Here is a straightforward guide to what the Permanent School Fund is, what the ballot proposal actually changes, and why it matters for local students.

What Is the Permanent School Fund?
Think of the Permanent School Fund (PSF) as a massive, legacy savings account for Minnesota’s public education.

▪️The Origin: Created when Minnesota became a state in 1858, the federal government set aside millions of acres of land to help fund public schools.

▪️How It Earns Money: Revenue generated from timber harvesting, mining operations, and land leases on trust land goes directly into the fund.

▪️Who Manages It: The principal balance is invested by the Minnesota State Board of Investment.

▪️Who Benefits: Every public school district, charter school, and tribal school in Minnesota receives a payout twice a year based on student enrollment.

Over the years, the trust’s value has grown dramatically, climbing from roughly $675 million in 2010 to over $2.4 billion today. However, payouts to schools have stayed comparatively low due to outdated rules written into the state constitution decades ago.

What Changes on the 2026 Ballot?
The proposed constitutional amendment updates the rulebook for how money leaves the fund and reaches the classroom.

Under the existing model, schools only receive payouts generated strictly by interest and dividends, yielding roughly 2.5% of the fund. The amendment modernizes this formula to a standard percent-of-market-value model, releasing 4.5% of the fund's average value (calculated across a three-year rolling period to smooth out stock market ups and downs).

The Direct Impact on Schools
▪️More Cash Per Student: Payouts are projected to jump from roughly $68 to an estimated $101 per pupil each year.

▪️No Tax Increase: Because the extra funding comes directly from earnings on an existing multi-billion-dollar endowment, passing the measure will NOT raise local property taxes, state income taxes, or sales taxes.

▪️Equal Distribution: Funds will continue to go directly to all traditional public districts, charter schools, and tribal schools across the state.

Key Takeaways for Election Day
1. Broad Bipartisan backing: The proposal came out of a nonpartisan task force that studied the fund's limitations, earning unanimous support before passing both the Minnesota House and Senate with strong bipartisan majorities.

2. Constitutional Requirement: Because the original 19th-century formula is written into the Minnesota Constitution, state lawmakers cannot adjust it on their own, only voters can.

3. Leaving It Blank Counts as a "No": In Minnesota, a constitutional amendment must be approved by a majority of all voters participating in the election. If you skip the question on your ballot, it automatically counts mathematically as a "No" vote.

4. Current vs. Future Needs: The new 4.5% rolling-average design is engineered to deliver immediate relief to today's classroom budgets while ensuring the overall endowment continues to grow for future generations.

👑 It’s Homecoming Week, Bucs! Join us tonight (Monday, September 14) at 8:00 in the PAC for the 2026 Homecoming Coronation as we crown this year’s Homecoming Royalty!

Our apologies - tonight's Coronation will not be livestreamed due to technical difficulties.

Looking Ahead: An Exciting New Chapter for BEA

Welcome back, BEA!

There is something special about the beginning of a new school year. The hallways begin to fill, classrooms come to life, and our buildings once again become the busy, energetic places they are meant to be. As we prepare to welcome our staff and students back, I am especially excited about what this year - and the years ahead - have in store for Blue Earth Area Schools.

First, I want to take a moment to say thank you to our communities.

Over the past year, so many of you took the time to learn about the condition of our school facilities, attend meetings, ask questions, have conversations with school leaders and community members, and engage with the information we shared. Most importantly, you exercised your right to make your voice heard at the polls in August.

With the passage of the referendum, we are beginning an incredibly exciting new chapter for our district. Thank you for putting your trust in Blue Earth Area Schools and in the future of our students.

Now the real work begins!

Over the coming months, we will begin the design process for our new PreK–6 building. One of the most exciting parts of this process will be gathering input from our staff, students, families, and community members about what this new school can and should look like. We already started this journey with a great group of staff and community members who toured three newer constructed elementary schools to see the possibilities of what could be for BEA! We want this to be more than a new building - we want it to be a space that reflects who we are as a community and creates incredible learning experiences for our students.

The design phase is expected to take approximately 10–12 months, followed by approximately two years of construction. If everything stays on schedule, we anticipate welcoming our PreK–6 students into their new school in fall 2029.
That may seem like a long way off, but there will be a lot happening between now and then! We are committed to keeping our community informed throughout the process and sharing updates, opportunities for input, and milestones along the way. Be sure to follow Blue Earth Area Schools on social media so you don't miss the updates!

And while we are looking ahead to the future, there is plenty happening right here and now.

A tremendous thank you to our custodial and maintenance teams for the countless hours they have put in over the summer preparing our buildings for another school year. From deep cleaning classrooms and hallways to completing repairs, moving furniture, maintaining grounds, and tackling all of the behind-the-scenes work that often goes unnoticed, their work is essential to getting our schools ready for students and staff. We are incredibly grateful for everything they do to make our schools clean, safe, welcoming, and ready for learning.

As I look around our schools in these final days before students return, I can't help but feel excited. We have so much to look forward to - a new school on the horizon, continued opportunities to grow and improve, and, most importantly, another year of learning, growing, and making a difference in the lives of our students.

Welcome back, BEA! Here's to a fantastic 2026-27 school year and an exciting future for Blue Earth Area Schools. I can't wait to see what we accomplish together!

~Mandy Fletcher
Superintendent, Blue Earth Area Schools