Sauk Rapids-Rice School Board Moves to Put Facility Improvement Projects in Front of Voters in February

(KNSI) — The Sauk Rapids-Rice School Board has voted to present two facility improvement projects to district voters in a special election set for next year.

The decision comes after two years of in-depth data analysis and community feedback, including input from task forces and a district-wide survey conducted in the summer of 2024. On July 12th, they sent out 11,164 electronic surveys to every address in the district to ask about the community’s energy and desire to look at two projects. One of them is an early childhood center at Hillside Early Learning Center, and the other is an outdoor activities project.

Survey results showed the community’s desire for both. In response, the School Board narrowed the project plans to align with that vision. On February 11th, voters will consider them as separate ballot questions.

Question one would construct a new Early Childhood Center to replace the Hillside facility, addressing current and future enrollment needs. That would cost $37.2 million.

Question two would create a new Outdoor Activity Complex at the high school to replace the existing middle school stadium, which would cost $17.7 million.

If both measures pass, the projected tax impact on a median-valued home ($260,000) in the district would be approximately $3.00 per year.

In 2018, the school board held 22 meetings around the district to gather feedback on what the community thought about the needs for district buildings and facilities. During that process, several items surfaced as priorities, and many of them, including Pleasantview Elementary, Mississippi Heights, safe and secure entrances and exits, and bettering the pickup and drop-off areas, have been completed. That was six years ago, so the board decided to ask about priorities again.

A district press release says the referendum “reflects the School Board’s commitment to addressing priority facility needs and ensuring a solid foundation for every Storm student.”

More information will be shared with school communities as February 11th approaches.

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