Financial picture holds steady in Esko schools

Esko superintendent Aaron Fischer told the school board Monday that he was cautiously optimistic the district would not have to face any retrenchment as a proposed budget for 2025 is being formulated.

"Our forecast showed that we were going to be projecting to be OK, so we are moving forward without any cuts," he said.

The number of students is the backbone of state funding and, unlike neighboring school districts, Esko has experienced a steady enrollment even with an overall decline in school-age children throughout the region. In the 2022-2023 school year, Carlton lost over 50 students, with...