MAZEPPA, Mich. — When Zumbrota-Mazeppa voters go to the polls May 14 to cast their ballots on a $49.95 million construction bond referendum, they won't be voting on anything fancy.
That money will be spread over four buildings — the middle school/high school, elementary school, primary school and Childcare Center — in both communities.
"We're not asking for things that are lavish and outstanding and things that are wants," said Z-M Schools Superintendent Mike Harvey. "We're looking for practical, and that's a reflection of our community and our community task force."
That task force was part of a three-year process that brought the district to the referendum.
The $49.95 million is spread between about $22.4 million for new construction and $27.55 million for the renovation work in the project.
That includes pretty much most of the elementary school undergoing renovation plus the addition of a third-grade wing — six classrooms — and a new auxiliary gym.
At the middle school/high school, renovation and new construction work would focus on technical arts such as woods, metal, and family and consumer science labs. There would also be several new classrooms and rooms renovated for new uses. A new auxiliary gym and renovations to the auditorium would also be part of the project.
Harvey said the upgrades to the auditorium would be new sound, light, and backdrop systems as well as new flooring.
There would also be new classrooms and some renovation at both the Childcare Center and primary school.
Wendt said the expansion is a need that will yield dividends as students signed up for pre-K usually stick in the district through graduation.
"The other day we had preschool signup, and it filled up in three minutes for 60 slots," he said. "If we can have more room in pre-K, it'll definitely pay off."
All four buildings would get secure entrance upgrades, which Harvey said were the top priority among the 625 district residents surveyed for the project. Other high priorities included space for special education, redesigned classrooms and flexible learning spaces, and expansion of the high school parking lot.
Board member Jim Wendt said the price tag is one of the topics he gets the most comments about, but overall the comments he's received have been positive.
One district resident Wednesday night said she was concerned the project would add as much as $1,300 annually to her tax bill, and that parents with children currently in school should pay for any building projects.
"Someone else paid the taxes for when I went to school," Wendt said. "It's important to the community we educate these kids."
Harvey said the district has mailed information to all its residents, but now he's busy correcting misinformation that's spread through social media. He said people have called to say they heard the district will need to build a new school within 10 years.
"I'm like, well, where did you hear that?" Harvey said.
Harvey said the referendum would add $37 a month to the tax bill of an average $190,000 valued residential home, and the survey showed voters would support a referendum up to $41 a month.
He added that the agricultural community has shown support despite it's typically higher tax bills. "They support the schools here," he said.
While the expansion would create enough room for an average of 115 students per grade level — the district currently has 93 students per grade on average — the expanded space is needed now.
Harvey said the district is poised for growth, and new home construction in the district has already been robust. That's expected to continue as Destination Medical Center continues in Rochester. The district is also seeing growth from people relocating from the Twin Cities, he said.
Even without the growth, classrooms are crowded, Harvey said, and not designed for 21st Century collaborative learning. Students working on projects are either jammed into undersized rooms or working in the hallways.
The solution, both at the middle school/high school and at the elementary school, is open collaborative learning spaces.
"We have kids just lying on the floor, and it's not very conducive for learning," he said.
