Update: The bond referendum was approved by a margin of 2,581 voting yes to 2,255 voting no.
Background Information
During its January 26 meeting the ISD 194 School Board voted unanimously in favor of a resolution calling a special election for voters to consider a $44 million bond referendum. The special election will be held on May 11, 2021. If approved by voters, the bond funds will be used to purchase land and build a new elementary school to be completed by the fall of 2024. Constructing a new elementary school is part of the district's broader long-range planning, which projects district enrollment to increase by 2,500 students by 2030.
ISD 194 has created a webpage with more information about the referendum. The projected tax impact would be a $49 increase in annual property taxes for a home valued at $400,000. ISD 194 hosted an informational meeting regarding the referendum on April 13 and video of that meeting is available here.
ISD 194 plans to hold another special election on November 2, 2021 to fill the vacancy on the School Board resulting from Zach Duckworth's election to the Minnesota Senate. On April 13 the Board unanimously voted to establish the dates of the filing period for candidates which will be July 27 through August 10, 2021. The Board has not appointed anyone to temporarily fill the vacancy despite state law calling for any vacancy on the Board to be filled by appointment.