MAS Explains Planning Process Behind Bond Referendum

GLENWOOD, MN – With the November 4th bond referendum approaching, Minnewaska Area Schools is providing detailed information about the comprehensive three-year planning process that shaped the $25 million facilities proposal voters will consider.

Three-Year Planning Process
The Minnewaska School Board and administration developed the referendum proposal through an extensive process that began in 2022. The planning process included facility condition assessments conducted by engineers, SiteLogic, and the Minnesota School Safety Center, multiple community listening sessions, review of state safety requirements and educational program needs, and a comprehensive community survey in April 2025.

The Role of the Community Survey
In April 2025, the district conducted a community survey to gather feedback on potential facility improvements and investment levels. The survey was conducted by School Perceptions, an independent research firm specializing in K-12 community engagement. This survey served as a critical tool to ensure the school board understood which facility improvements were most important to the community, what level of financial investment the community could reasonably support, and how to prioritize among competing needs.

Survey Results: What the Community Said
889 community members responded to the survey, representing a 17% response rate. The feedback was clear. When asked about different investment levels, tax tolerance data showed that the $25 million level received 60.5% support, while support dropped significantly at higher amounts. The $35 million option received 45.2% support, and the $45 million option received just 27% support.

When asked to prioritize additional projects beyond critical maintenance, respondents identified childcare facilities, pool repairs, and community wellness and recreation spaces as top priorities.

The Refinement Process: April to June 2025
Following the survey, the school board engaged in an intensive two-month refinement process. The board held additional stakeholder meetings with community members, architects, and contractors to discuss priorities and gather more precise cost information. The district worked with local contractors, including community member Bob Lang, to obtain detailed, project-specific cost estimates that allowed the board to finalize the scope and budget for each component.

The board carefully adjusted project scopes to fit community priorities within the $25 million budget the survey indicated would have strongest support. For example, an initial concept for multi-use recreation space was estimated at $13 million. Through careful planning and scope refinement with local expertise, this was reduced to approximately $9 million while still delivering the multi-use space identified as a priority.

The board chose to incorporate high-priority additional projects from the survey, particularly childcare and community wellness facilities, into the $25 million plan rather than pursuing a larger referendum that survey data suggested would have significantly lower community support. This approach meant making strategic choices about scope and scale for each component while ensuring all critical building systems and safety needs were addressed.

Legal Requirements for Independent Services
Minnesota law requires school districts to work with independent, licensed architects, engineers, and financial advisors when developing bond proposals. Minnewaska Area Schools has contracted with Wold Architects for facility design, Ehlers Inc. for financial advisory services, and School Perceptions for community research. These firms provide professional services on a fee basis.

State Oversight and Approval
All school bond proposals in Minnesota must undergo the Department of Education’s Review and Comment process before proceeding to voters. This state-level review verifies educational need, financial soundness, and compliance with Minnesota requirements. The Minnewaska proposal received approval to proceed to the November 4th ballot.

The Final Plan: Five Key Investment Areas
In June 2025, the school board finalized the plan and submitted the Review and Comment document to the Minnesota Department of Education. The $25 million bond referendum addresses facility needs across five categories:

1. Safety and Security ($3.6M): Secure building entrances and separated bus/vehicle traffic patterns at both campuses
2. Critical Building Reinvestment ($4.6M): HVAC system upgrades, parking lot reconstruction, pool filtration, and auditorium seating
3. Learning Space Improvements ($4.6M): Career and Technical Education lab modernization and media center updates
4. Childcare Expansion ($3.2M): Addition of licensed childcare facilities to address regional workforce needs, supported by $1M Pope County investment and potential $1.875M USDA grant
5. Shared Community Spaces ($9M): Multi-use space, weight room, and rehabilitation facilities for CTE space expansion, serving students and community programs

Multi-Use Space Design Approach
The proposed multi-use space is designed to serve multiple district and community functions. The facility would accommodate physical education classes during school hours, youth sports programs, wellness and fitness programming, and community education programming and events. This multi-use approach is utilized by comparable Minnesota school districts including Alexandria, Morris, and Montevideo to maximize facility efficiency while providing both student and community access. The design consolidates functions that would otherwise require separate facilities, reducing overall construction and operational costs.

External Funding Partners
An important aspect of the final plan is the significant external support the district has secured or is pursuing. Pope County has committed $1 million toward the childcare facility. The district has applied for a $1.875 million USDA Rural Development grant for the childcare facility. Business partnerships are supporting the childcare center through scholarships and donations. This external support will allow for added enhancements beyond the $25 million bond referendum scope.
Financial Structure

The district’s financial advisor, Ehlers Inc., has structured the bond proposal using a wraparound approach that coordinates new debt payments with the retirement of existing bonds. This approach is designed to minimize tax impact by taking advantage of scheduled declines in current debt service. The Ag2School Tax Credit will provide a 70% reduction on agricultural property taxes related to the referendum.

Transparency and Accountability
All planning documents, cost breakdowns, and the complete MDE Review and Comment document are available at www.minnewaska.k12.mn.us/bond-vote/. The district remains committed to answering any questions about the planning process or specific projects, providing detailed financial information and tax impact calculators, maintaining community input, and maintaining the lowest property tax rate among area school districts.

Voting Information

Vote early and absentee: Now through November 3 at the MAS District Office, Door #1, Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All absentee ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. on election night, Nov. 4, to the District Office. Pope County Courthouse will not accept absentee ballots.
Election Day: Vote Tuesday, November 4 at the Pope County Courthouse, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please note: This special election is a combined polling place between the MAS District and the Pope County Courthouse, which differs from the past special election.

Detailed project information, tax impact calculators, and answers to frequently asked questions are available at www.minnewaska.k12.mn.us/bond-vote/.