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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Fall Lake resident pressures legislators on ISD 696 annexation

Keith Vandervort
Posted 1/12/22

REGIONAL – A renewed if not emotion-filled plea in an old argument, Fall Lake Township’s placement in the Lake Superior School District, was made late last month to state lawmakers …

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Fall Lake resident pressures legislators on ISD 696 annexation

Posted

REGIONAL – A renewed if not emotion-filled plea in an old argument, Fall Lake Township’s placement in the Lake Superior School District, was made late last month to state lawmakers meeting in Ely.
Sheila Gruba, of Fall Lake, updated the argument that it was time for state action that would place the township, located in the northwest corner of Lake County, in the nearby Ely school district where many Fall Lake children attend school. She made the emotion-filled plea to State Sen. Tom Bakk and State Rep. Rob Ecklund during an annual legislative session of the Ely Community Economic Development Joint Powers Board.
Unfortunately, Gruba’s argument likely fell on deaf ears as the issue of school funding remains in the hands of others.
Here’s the issue. Fall Lake Township borders the boundaries of ISD 696. More than 40 students who live in that township, part of neighboring Lake County, attend Ely schools through open enrollment. The township residents in the adjoining county and adjoining school district pay their property taxes to fund the schools in that school district.
So why don’t those 40-plus students attend the school in their home county and home school district? The schools are located on the other end of the county and the Lake Superior School District does not provide transportation because of the high costs involved.
Gruba claimed she was representing concerned citizens and taxpayers in Fall Lake Township and sought advice from the local state legislators “to fix what we believe is a long-forgotten oversight” impacting the taxpayers and students in the township. She cited data that 42 students from Fall Lake attend ISD 696 through open enrollment. The Ely school district receives $6,500 for each of the 42 students, a total of $273,000, from the state.
“These students have traditionally attended Ely schools because it is not logistically feasible for our students to travel to the Lake Superior school district. It is two hours, one way to take our students there,” Gruba said. “We feel it does not make sense and would like to find a way to detach from the (Lake Superior) district and become a part of the Ely school district.”
Gruba cited peace of mind issues relating to township students attending school much closer to home and having transportation provided.
“We would be able to vote for or run for the Ely school board,” she said. “Most importantly, Fall Lake tax dollars would go to the school system that our township (students) attend.”
She cited historical facts to strengthen her case. Starting in the 1950s, seventh and eighth-grade students were bussed to Ely schools.
“Ninth through 12th graders always went to the Ely school system,” she said. “In 1969, the Section 30 school was closed, and in 1979 the school was torn down.”
In 2002, a $37 million, 20-year school bonding referendum was passed for a new high school in Two Harbors.
“In 2005, there were attempts to obtain state bonding to pay Fall Lake’s portion, but that bill failed,” Gruba said.
“The only way we can get out of the Lake Superior school district is through the annexation process, which would then obligate us to both Ely and the Two Harbors (sic) which is not feasible,” she added.
“This issue has continued to simmer for the past 15 years. During this time a tuition agreement between Lake Superior and Ely ended. Nothing exists today. Meanwhile, Fall Lake residents now pays17 percent of a levy that was just passed,” Gruba said. “Lake County continues to pay zero for Fall Lake citizens to attend school in Ely or for transportation costs.”
She said she has paid $32,000 for the bonding levy.
“And that was when our children were young. They are now age 38 and 42.”
Gruba addressed Bakk and Ecklund directly.
“Our citizens are frustrated. We know this is a difficult situation that puts two areas of your districts against each other. We ask for your advice to resolve this situation once and for all. We are hoping for a commonsense solution.”
Bakk reiterated the obstacles that stand in the way of a resolution of any kind.
“The last time this boiled up was some 20 years ago, and I think we at least had the two school boards talking to each other,” he said. “The two school boards need to figure this out.”
He only offered to put an agreement by the school boards into legislative language.
Gruba asserted that that legal grounds exist to support Fall Lake in detaching from the Lake Superior school district.
“Our classified school was closed. They don’t even provide bussing. Can’t some type of legislation be introduced?” she asked. “We just want to be let go. This is taxation without representation.”
State Rep. Kurt Daudt, the state House majority leader who also attended the Joint Powers meeting in Ely, indicated that the state legislature has the authority to address the issue. “The good news is that we write the laws,” he said.
Bakk conceded that there is no incentive for Lake County or the Lake Superior school district to give up Fall Lake Township.
Ecklund added, “It is a tough situation. “I get where you are at.”