Officers elected for calendar year 2026

By Robert Williams

Editor

John Powers, of Applied Insights North, presented a 10-year enrollment projection for Frazee-Vergas schools to the school board at the Monday, Jan. 12 meeting.

Highlights of Powers’ data-driven projection include total enrollment expected to decrease 13.1 percent from 810 to 704. Resident student enrollment is expected to decline 12.3 percent and non-resident student enrollment to drop 17.6 percent.

A slight rise in lower grade numbers late in the projection period to 2034-35 suggests stabilizing enrollment and Frazee-Vergas will remain a solid two-section school with average K-6 grade enrollment in the low 50s.

Powers clarified his projection is not a prediction. It is built on assumptions regarding the best understanding of district dynamics such as open enrollment and future births. It produces relatively smooth trend lines because it uses averages and constants. The reality is there will be annual fluctuations in such things as incoming kindergarten classes.

The district can use the projections in several ways including:

• Compare actual enrollment figures to projected ones, identify the likely reason such as a specific assumption that is not running true to reality and then determine if the deviation is a one-off event or something that is more permanently impacting future enrollment.

• Use the projection as a baseline against which to pro-actively take actions to intentionally change one or more assumptions used in the projection (i.e., open enrollment out) in order to achieve a desired future enrollment level.

For context, Powers examined six area districts that showed enrollment increases from 2015-25 in Perham-Dent 13.2 percent and New York Mills 12 percent, while Frazee-Vergas -7.7 percent joined Detroit Lakes -7.7 percent, Menahga -2.5 percent and Park Rapids -2.3 percent over the same span.

A breakdown of Frazee-Vergas enrollment over the same time period included:

• The number of students living in the district declined 5.7 percent.

• Total K-12 enrollment decreased 7.7 percent.

• The number of resident students enrolled at Frazee-Vergas declined from 757 to 691.

• Non-resident student enrollment rose from 121 to 157 before settling back to 119.

• The number of students open enrolled out decreased from 376 to 342.

• The number of home-schooled students rose from 67 to 100. The number of students attending private school is minimal.

• Over the past 15 years annual births to residents of Becker and Otter Tail (only including three percent of total) counties shifted from five-year average of 440 to 428 to current level of 380.

In a review of area development, Powers’ research suggests that housing is a significant factor on enrollment, but currently its future impact is undetermined with no long-term development activity.

• The area’s economy is diverse and in good shape with Detroit Lakes and Perham as the major centers for employment and services.

• Frazee and Vergas are basically bedroom communities with solid locally focused businesses and lower cost housing.

• Both communities see a need for increased housing options and enhanced public amenities to make them more attractive to future residents.

• There have been several small but important housing developments but, looking longer term, there are no identified residential development activity in the district that would significantly impact enrollment.

Powers’ projection provided the following assumptions:

• The economy will continue to be strong, but there are no identified housing projects of scale to impact the number of households with children-growth. The district will rely on housing stock turnover.

• Kindergarten classes for 2025-26 to 2029-30 will be generated by an average of 380 annual births in Becker and Otter Tail (partial) counties. The five years after that will be based on an average of 392. Year-to-year fluctuations of 20-40 expected but not able to project in any given year. On average roughly 18.3 percent of the births will be to residents living in the Frazee-Vergas district.

• Open enrollment dynamics will remain similar to recent years with the number of incoming non-resident students comprising roughly 15 percent of total enrollment.

• The number of students being home-schooled remains relatively constant near the current level around 100.

• Grade progression ratios for resident and non-resident students will remain close to recent averages.

Hornet Pride

The school board approved the following donations:

• Alexis Tappe – $250 donation to the weight room

• Frazee Wrestling Boosters – $100 donation to the weight room

• Walmart – $50 donation to Hornet Kids (LatchKey)

• Papa Murphy’s – In-kind donation of pizzas and bottled pop

Organization

The board elected officers for the calendar year of 2026 with two members taking on new positions. Tyler Trieglaff was voted to be the Vice Chair while Simon George was elected to be this year’s Clerk. Nathan Matejka will remain as chairman; Tammie Nunn remains as Treasurer.

Committee appointments and representatives will be the same as 2025. Committee assignments and representatives are listed on the school website under District.

Each board member will receive an annual stipend of $240 with additional stipends for officers: Chair $600, Vice Chair $100; Clerk $50; Treasurer $50. Other compensation includes: Meeting Stipends; Out of District Meals and Mileage Reimbursement; Official Designations; Signature Authorizations and Safekeeping Investment Securities.

Staffing

The board approved the following:

• Hiring of Jason Hofer for a food service position.

• Approval of Freshwater and Superintendent Karger’s recommendation to increase the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) teacher allocation from 0.5 to 0.75 Full-Time Employee (FTE), resulting in an estimated additional cost of $17,000 for the remainder of the school year.

• Release of a probationary paraeducator.

• Event supervisors’ pay adjustment from hourly to per event: $50 weekdays; $80 weekends (Saturday-Sunday).