(KNSI) – Voters in the Sartell-St. Stephen and Sauk Rapids Rice School Districts will decide Tuesday on whether to fund some needed upgrades, improvements and additions.
The Sartell St. Stephen School District is asking for $21.9 million to replace the HVAC system at Riverview Intermediate School. It’s the original high school built in 1969, and the air system is the same.
Superintendent Mike Rivard tells KNSI News they’re dealing with pipes and valves that are more than 50 years old and need better control of temperature, humidity, and air circulation. Rivard says the real challenge is finding parts for the system. “Every time there’s a part that goes down, our challenge in finding those parts can include going on to eBay, because the parts not made anymore, watching for older schools, when they get closed and then torn down. Our Person who is in charge of buildings is watching for those across the country because he’ll reach and say ‘can I get a hold of some of those’ before they end up in the dumpster.”
The second question on the ballot is asking for $8.5 million for athletic fields at the new high school. Rivard says this was always part of the original 2019 plans. “So there was always a plan that we’re going to ensure that we had a facilities upgrade out at the new high school campus. Where we would have a stadium that would be available for soccer, lacrosse, football, a track and field.”
He says Sartell is among the 10% of schools without their on-campus track facility. The complex would also include a turf field, scoreboard, and bleachers. The district’s administrative team has done nearly 35 community presentations on the project.
If both questions are approved, the owner of a $300,000 home (median cost in District 748) would see a $108.93 tax increase over the next 20 years. Question one has to pass for question two to get approved.
To see how much it would cost you home owner or for more information on the referendum, click here.
In Sauk Rapids Rice, voters will also be asked two questions.
The first is for a new facility to replace the Hillside Early Childhood Center. In December, Sauk Rapids and the district agreed to a land swap involving roughly ten acres of city-owned land in Mayhew Creek Park and about 17.5 acres of undeveloped school district property adjacent to the park. Pending voter approval, the district plans to build a new 60,000-square-foot early childhood education center on the ten acres.
The district is asking voters for nearly $37.2 million to replace the almost 100-year-old, 40,000 square foot Hillside building. It was first a high school, then a middle school, and then an elementary school and now it houses the community’s littlest learners.
The building isn’t compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and has major issues with its heating and HVAC systems. After the presentation, Bergstrom told KNSI News a new building is sorely needed. “Two years ago, we started providing childcare, along with providing the opportunity for kids to do preschool, and our enrollment almost doubled. And so, we are turning people away because we just don’t have enough room.”
Bergstrom says the cost to build new is $2 million more than renovating and expanding the century old structure.
The second question is seeking $17.7 million for an athletic complex at the high school.
In 2000, the voters in the district decided to build the current high school, which opened in 2003. Bergstrom explained that was meant to be phase one of the project. The second phase of building the high school is the outdoor activities project. The land sits at the middle school that was once the old high school.
He says a big reason they can build both projects with a minimal tax impact is that the debt for the high school will be paid off at the end of this year. Using those funds would mean the median price of a home in the district, which is around $260,000, would cost the owner an additional $3 a year. The questions are independent, so voters can decide to do one or the other or both.
For more information on the proposed project, click here.
The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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