Sauk Rapids–Rice superintendent lays out Feb. 11 referendum for early‑childhood center, outdoor activity complex

Superintendent Brad Bergstrom of Sauk Rapids–Rice Public Schools told the Benton County Board that the district is asking voters to decide on two separate questions at a special election on Feb. 11: a 60,000‑square‑foot early‑childhood center priced at an estimated $37.2 million, and an outdoor activity complex, including two artificial turf fields, a track and stadium features, at an estimated $17.7 million.

Bergstrom said the district followed a multi‑year community planning process that began in 2018, conducted another round of outreach in July 2024 and mailed 11,164 surveys to district households; 2,903 responses had been received during the presentation. He summarized the survey findings: 55.2% of respondents supported an early‑childhood center, 53.3% supported the outdoor activity complex, and about 45.5% supported both projects together. He said the district also received a positive “review and comment” from the Minnesota Department of Education on Dec. 5, which cleared the proposal to go before voters.

Explaining why the district is asking for a new early‑childhood facility, Bergstrom described the existing Hillside building as nearly 100 years old and operationally constrained: "In our whole building, there's only six child sized toilets," he said, and classrooms have been adapted to meet current demand. The early‑childhood plan calls for a new single‑story facility designed for 3‑, 4‑ and 5‑year‑old classrooms and to allow expansion toward full‑day preschool programming if needed.

For the outdoor activity complex, Bergstrom said district planners propose to build just west of the high school on property obtained in a land swap with the City of Sauk Rapids near Mayhew Creek Park. The plan would include two turf fields, a track, ticketing and concession facilities, accessible walkways and restrooms. He told the board that renovating the current activity area at the middle school would be more expensive than building new: his presentation put a full renovation estimate at about $21.4 million versus the new facility cost estimate of $17.7 million.

On tax impact, Bergstrom said the district calculated the median district home, valued at about $260,000, would see an additional $3 per year for the two projects combined because an existing high‑school bond is scheduled to retire; he added, "Right now that same home is paying $220 a year on the high school debt... If both projects pass, that median home will now pay $223 a year, and it'll be for 25 years." He also encouraged residents to use the district’s online tax calculator to estimate the effect for homes at other market values.

Board members asked about childcare capacity, agricultural tax impacts and alternatives if voters reject one or both questions. Bergstrom said the proposed early‑childhood center would expand capacity from roughly 220 to room for 300 students and that the number of childcare slots depends on whether the district offers full‑day or half‑day programming. On agricultural parcels he noted that state rules limit how levies affect farm land and that the district has made explanatory material and a tax calculator available on its website. On next steps he listed community meetings, tours and recorded FAQ sessions the district is holding before the Feb. 11 vote.

Why it matters: The two projects would reshape district early‑learning capacity and athletic facilities and carry long‑term debt implications for property owners in the Sauk Rapids–Rice district. The board heard technical details about site selection, construction costs and the district’s outreach that will inform local stakeholders ahead of the referendum.