Park Rapids profile

Enrollment: About 1,600 students.

The problem: The district suffered five failed levies before voters approved a $600 per pupil operating levy last year, in effect for five years. Partly to blame were financial problems that began with an accounting error discovered in 2000 where administrators had mistakenly double-counted some state funding. This error, which fueled mistrust of school administration in the community, coupled with declining enrollment and flat state funding ,caused the district's financial shortfall, said school officials.

The consequences of a failed 2006 levy: If that levy had failed, the district would have cut all extracurricular activities - becoming the first district in the state to take such a drastic step. The district had already been cutting, including 43 teaching positions in the previous four years and funding for six sports. Teachers had virtually no school supply budget and were forced to either buy supplies themselves or receive help from the school's PTA groups.

The future: School officials are certain - and told voters this last year - that they will be back requesting another operating levy when the current one expires.