Wayzata board reviews three-question April 14 referendum: tech levy renewal, $465M facilities package and $31M pool

Superintendent Chase Anderson outlined a three‑question special election set for April 14 that would ask voters to renew the district’s technology levy, approve a broad facilities package and separately fund an eight‑lane swimming pool.

Anderson said question one is a 10‑year renewal of an existing technology levy that would not raise taxes beyond current collections and would provide about $6.5 million per year toward technology operations and replacement cycles. Question two is a comprehensive facilities package priced at about $465,000,000 to construct a new elementary school, a new middle school, and an addition to Wayzata High School alongside districtwide improvements including updated kitchens, new gymnasiums at some elementary sites, expanded cafeteria space, and $10 million allocated for districtwide safety and security upgrades. Question three is a stand‑alone ballot item estimated at $31,000,000 to build an on‑campus eight‑lane pool; that project alone is estimated to increase property taxes by about $4 per month on a $650,000 home.

Anderson cited enrollment increases — from roughly 10,500 K–12 students in 2012 to about 13,000 in the current year — and presented growth scenarios that, depending on rate assumptions, place the district between about 14,000 and 15,000 students within a decade. He said the district’s AAA bond rating should secure favorable interest rates if voters approve the packages.

Anderson also noted the administration submitted a review‑and‑comment document to the Minnesota Department of Education and had received a positive response with no findings, a result board members called unusual and supportive of the proposal’s readiness.

Board members asked how the proposed capacity aligns with projected growth and whether additional seats could be repurposed if growth slows. Anderson said the plan builds long‑term capacity beyond 10 years to provide flexibility, meet pre‑K demand and avoid the short‑term retrofits that come from leasing off‑campus space. He said the high school remains a single‑campus model for programming and efficiency, citing prior analysis that favored a single large high school.

Amy Parnell, the district communications lead, reviewed campaign materials included in the board packet: a four‑page fact sheet for distribution, a concise 'bookmark' talking‑points card, flyers specific to the high‑school expansion and pool proposal, polling‑location information, and a staff Q&A that explains rules for staff participation in referendum outreach. Parnell said the district will roll out presentations, videos, targeted email and social campaigns, and a tax‑impact calculator on the referendum website; the official campaign launch will begin the first week of February with dozens of community presentations planned.

Anderson and staff emphasized planning and bidding processes would follow standard public procurement and that project teams (including Kraus Anderson and local architects) will coordinate design, permitting and construction oversight should the referendum pass. He also noted financing assumptions use an average home value of $650,000 (per consultant Ehlers) when estimating tax impacts and that project financing would be structured with a 25‑year payback schedule for the pool.

The board did not take any formal votes on the referendum during the work session; staff said informational outreach will continue and additional board discussions and public sessions are scheduled ahead of the April election.