St. Francis Schools Board approves academic goals as City Council narrowly adopts 2026 budget and levy

ST. FRANCIS, Minn.
Two governing bodies shaping daily life in St. Francis made consequential decisions late last year, approving long range academic priorities for local schools and finalizing a closely contested city budget and tax levy following extensive public input.

School Board adopts Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness goals

On Nov. 24, the St. Francis Area Schools Board unanimously approved the district’s six Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness goals for the 2025–2026 school year, marking a required step under Minnesota’s statewide education accountability framework.

Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness, known as CACR, replaced the former World’s Best Workforce program and is intended to measure not only academic performance but also how well schools prepare students for life beyond graduation, including civic participation and long term learning.

State law requires school districts to address five core statutory goals: ensuring children are ready for school, closing racial and economic achievement gaps, preparing students for career and college, graduating all students from high school, and fostering lifelong learning. Districts often include an additional locally defined goal to reflect community priorities.

The St. Francis board’s approval followed a staff presentation reviewing outcomes from the 2024–2025 school year and outlining proposed targets for the year ahead. According to that presentation, district results were mixed.

Administrators reported that goals related to preschool phonological awareness were met, signaling progress in early literacy. At the same time, third grade reading proficiency declined, dropping from 57 percent to 49 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards. The district reported gains in mathematics performance and progress in narrowing achievement gaps for students receiving special education services under Individualized Education Programs.

Looking ahead, one of the proposed targets for 2025–2026 includes a 3.8 percent increase in the share of students meeting or exceeding reading standards, a benchmark tied to college and career readiness indicators.

The CACR approval comes amid broader community discussion about school related tax impacts. In recent months, the district communicated with residents about increases connected to its Long Term Facilities Maintenance and Indoor Air Quality levy, along with abatement bonds used to address health and safety needs such as ventilation and HVAC upgrades in aging school buildings. Under Minnesota law, districts are permitted to levy for these purposes without a public referendum.

City Council adopts 2026 budget after contentious hearing

Separately, the St. Francis City Council approved its 2026 budget and property tax levy following a lengthy Truth in Taxation hearing in December, culminating in a narrow 3 to 2 vote.

The Truth in Taxation process, required under state law, gives residents an opportunity to comment on proposed tax levies before they are finalized. In St. Francis, the hearing drew pointed public criticism over spending priorities and the overall tax burden, reflecting broader tensions many cities face amid rising costs and limited revenue growth.

Earlier in the year, the council had adopted a preliminary maximum levy of $7.18 million payable in 2026, a procedural step that establishes the ceiling for taxation but allows adjustments before final adoption. The final vote affirmed that levy level, locking in the city’s revenue framework for the coming year.

City officials have cited inflationary pressures, infrastructure needs and operational costs as drivers of the budget, while residents voiced concern about affordability and transparency during the hearing.

Together, the school board’s academic planning and the city council’s fiscal decisions underscore a pivotal moment for St. Francis, as local leaders balance long term investment goals with immediate taxpayer concerns in a period of heightened scrutiny over public spending.

MinneapoliMedia