Aitkin schools ask voters to approve three-question bond to replace Rippleside Elementary

Steve Snyder, buildings and grounds supervisor for ISD 1, told residents the Rippleside Elementary School building is aging and "no longer able to fully meet the health, safety and learning needs of our students." He outlined a series of mechanical and structural failures the district says underlie a proposed bond referendum.

Snyder said many mechanical systems are original to the building and the roof is "at the end of its life." He described drainage problems that create standing water pools on the roof that then leak into the building, forcing temporary fixes that occupy hallways and classrooms. "We have drainage issues that lead to standing water pools on the roof," he said.

The supervisor reported asbestos wrapping on multiple systems and warned that a failure would require abatement before repairs could proceed. He also said the district has undertaken significant repairs to keep the fire alarm system operational and that parts of the heating and energy control systems are "barely holding together." In the gym, Snyder said ventilation equipment is nearly at the end of its useful life.

Snyder gave particular emphasis to the school kitchen, saying equipment is "approximately 40 to 50 years old" and that the dishwasher that sanitizes meal service needs replacement alongside critical plumbing and electrical work. "We are currently having to make costly repairs throughout the kitchen just about every month just to keep it functional," he said. He added that meal-preparation spaces are cramped, reducing efficiency and staff safety.

"Continued maintenance only provides temporary fixes and is not a long term solution for ensuring a safe, healthy, and stable school environment," Snyder said. To address those issues, Aitkin Public School District is asking residents to consider a three-question bond referendum that would fund a new pre-K through sixth-grade elementary school, a bus garage to protect district vehicles and an additional gym space that would be available for community use.

The presentation did not specify dollar amounts, ballot language, or a date for the referendum. The district did not provide a clarified building age in the presentation; the transcript records the phrasing "nearly 7 year old," which appears inconsistent with the description of original, decades-old systems. The district would need to provide specific project costs and a referendum schedule before voters can decide.

Next steps: Snyder framed the bond as a community investment and urged resident consideration; the district did not announce a referendum date or financing details during the remarks.