A year after rejecting $463 million in school building upgrades, South Washington County school district voters on Tuesday backed a pair of slimmed-down proposals to renovate and expand secondary schools and add elementary classroom space elsewhere.
Voters in South Washington County, Osseo school districts back big building projects
Mankato and Rochester also were among dozens of Minnesota districts with questions on Tuesday's ballot.
November 8, 2023 at 4:05AM
"We know this was a big ask for voters in hard economic times," Superintendent Julie Nielsen said in a statement expressing gratitude for the community's support.
A $223 million question on the Osseo school district ballot — highlighted by a new elementary school in Maple Grove — also won voter approval.
Add in major measures in Mankato and Rochester, plus smaller requests in dozens of districts elsewhere, and voters across the state were being asked to back a combined $1.6 billion for construction, technology, safety upgrades and more.
South Washington County now has about 19,000 students and is expected to grow by more than 3,000 students over the next decade.
That led to a 2022 proposal that not only carried a larger price tag but also would have closed a popular elementary school serving a high proportion of students of color — a point of contention among many voters.
On Tuesday, the district asked for about $201 million split across two ballot questions. One called for an addition to East Ridge High School, among other secondary school projects, while the other adds $40 million in classroom space at several elementary schools.
Security upgrades also were promised at several high schools and middle schools.
Osseo's proposal covered the new elementary school, plus secure entrances at Maple Grove, Osseo and Park Center high schools, and classroom upgrades districtwide.
Votes still were being tallied in Mankato and Rochester.
Mankato requested $105 million to pay for security upgrades plus renovations at Mankato West High School. Rochester's measure totaled $100 million over 10 years and covered technological upgrades and ongoing expenses.
Staff writer Eder Campuzano contributed to this report.
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