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Board outlines facilities task force work, readies survey and cost estimates ahead of possible referendum
Summary
Board members said the facilities task force will prioritize needs at an upcoming meeting, architects will attach dollar figures, and a community survey by Peter Leatherman will inform whether the district pursues a referendum; a board member said the district receives roughly $3,000 less per pupil than the state average.
A board member summarized progress of the district’s facilities task force and urged the board to encourage community participation as the committee moves toward prioritizing projects and estimating costs. The board is planning to have architects prepare dollar figures after the task-force prioritization, then discuss projected tax impacts if the board ultimately pursues a building bond, operating referendum or an HEC levy.
The member said a community survey is underway (the survey work was assigned to Peter Leatherman) and that the survey results will be presented at a future meeting. She repeated a district funding claim that the district receives about $3,000 less per pupil than the state average — a shortfall she characterized as roughly $10 million annually for the district — and said the outreach process this year is intended to surface public priorities before any decision on a referendum.
Board members also discussed practical constraints and timing: prioritization of facility needs will be followed by architect cost estimates and then a discussion of tax impacts. The member suggested a likely target of a November election if the board decides to proceed with a referendum, and encouraged ongoing communication to avoid surprises among voters later in the year.
Transportation and staffing concerns were raised as part of operational context: the board noted shortages of bus drivers and diesel mechanics and discussed district communications and recruitment messaging to address staffing gaps.
Representative quote: “Our kids, we have $3,000 less per student than the average in the state of Minnesota,” a board member said, urging broader community engagement before any referendum decision.
Next steps: The board will prioritize facility needs at the next meeting, ask architects for cost estimates, and expect a presentation of survey results and tax-impact figures at a following meeting. The board member said staff hopes to bring a recommendation to the full board in March or April, with any referendum, if approved, likely timed for a November election.
