News | Mesabi East Schools ISD2711

2026 General Election

Minnesota Voters to Consider Permanent School Fund Constitutional Amendment

Minnesota voters will see a statewide constitutional amendment on the November 3, 2026 ballot concerning how money from the Permanent School Fund is distributed to public schools.

Informational Notice: This information is provided to help community members understand the ballot question. Mesabi East School District is providing factual information and is not advocating for or against the proposed amendment.

What is the Permanent School Fund?

Minnesota's Permanent School Fund dates back to statehood and was established to provide ongoing financial support for public education.

The fund includes money generated from Minnesota's school trust lands and natural resources, including timber, mining activity, land leases, and other sources. Those funds are invested by the state, with proceeds distributed to public school districts across Minnesota.

What would the amendment change?

Under the current system, distributions from the Permanent School Fund are generally based on interest and dividend earnings generated by the fund.

The proposed constitutional amendment would allow Minnesota to use a different distribution model. Under the legislation approved by the Minnesota Legislature, the annual distributable amount would equal:

4.5% of the average net asset value of the Permanent School Fund over the preceding three fiscal years.

The change would alter how money already held and invested in the Permanent School Fund is distributed to Minnesota school districts.

The proposal does not create a new individual income or property tax. If voters approve the amendment, the new distribution method would take effect July 1, 2027, for aid payable in fiscal year 2028.

What will voters see on the ballot?

The ballot title will be:

Increasing funding to school districts

The official ballot question will ask:

“Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to increase the funding going to all school districts from the permanent school fund, which is a fund that supports school districts without raising individual income or property taxes, effective July 1, 2027?”

Voters will be able to select Yes or No on the question during the November 3, 2026 general election.

Learn More

Watch: Minnesota Permanent School Fund

The Minnesota School Boards Association has produced a video explaining the Permanent School Fund and the proposed constitutional amendment.

Watch on YouTube

Additional Information

Additional information about the Permanent School Fund and the proposed constitutional amendment is available from the Minnesota School Boards Association and the Minnesota Legislature.

Minnesota School Boards Association Minnesota Session Law

Mr. James working in his office as Mesabi East Athletic Director

Mesabi East Athletics

The Job Nobody Sees: A Look Inside the Life of a High School Athletic Director

To the outside world, high school sports look simple.

Games start on time. Fields are lined. Officials are there. Buses arrive. Schedules exist. Scores get reported. Seasons move forward.

But what most people never see is the person behind all of it—the Athletic Director.

At Mesabi East, that person is Mr. James.

While fans are watching tip-offs, first pitches, and kickoff returns, Mr. James is managing everything that made that moment possible—and everything that could go wrong next.

This is not a 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM job. It doesn’t shut off when the final buzzer sounds. In many ways, that’s when the real work begins.

Schedules alone are a constant moving target. Weather cancellations, officials backing out, transportation conflicts, facility availability, and last-minute school changes all require immediate adjustments. One cancellation doesn’t just affect one game—it ripples across multiple teams, levels, and even other schools. Every change triggers a chain reaction of phone calls, emails, and updates.

Then there’s communication—arguably the most demanding part of the job.

Mr. James serves as the central hub for coaches, athletes, parents, officials, opposing schools, transportation departments, administration, and the community. Every decision must be communicated clearly, quickly, and accurately—often under pressure, and often more than once.

Miss one detail, and it becomes a problem.
Get it right, and no one notices.

That’s the reality of the role.

Beyond logistics, there’s compliance—rules, eligibility, league regulations, state guidelines. These aren’t optional. They require constant attention, interpretation, and enforcement. Mistakes here don’t just cause inconvenience—they can cost programs games, seasons, or credibility.

And then there’s the unseen time.

Late nights. Early mornings. Weekends. Revising schedules. Responding to emails. Fixing problems no one else even knew existed. Preparing for seasons before the current one ends. Managing budgets. Supporting coaches. Handling issues that don’t make headlines but matter deeply to the people involved.

It’s not glamorous work. It’s not always appreciated work.

But it is essential work.

Because without it, nothing runs.

No games. No seasons. No structure.

Just chaos.

So the next time a game starts on time, a field is ready, or a schedule runs smoothly, understand this:

That didn’t happen by accident.

It happened because someone put in the hours, handled the problems, and carried the responsibility—quietly, consistently, and often without recognition.

At Mesabi East, that someone is Mr. James.

And whether people realize it or not, Mesabi East athletics depend on him more than they know.

Thank you, Mr. James, for the countless hours you put into making Mesabi East athletics run.