FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• The Ag2School Tax Credit reduces the burden for agricultural property owners on existing and future school bonds.

• Ag2School is a 70% automatic tax credit on agricultural homestead property tax bills payable in 2023 and beyond.

• If the referendum passes, the State will pay approximately $14.75 million of the total bond amount. That equates to over 59% of the referendum project total cost!

• Learn more by visiting our Ag2School Tax Credit webpage.

After reviewing findings from facility assessments, analysis and survey work, the community-wide survey, and from the Community Advisory Committee, it was determined that reinvesting in the existing elementary school in Clinton is not a viable future investment due to these concerns:

• The school was originally built in 1940 and is 83 years old.

• The mechanical systems are outdated and beyond their useful life.

• Fixing current infrastructure issues (heating & ventilation, roof, plumbing, electrical, etc.) is estimated to cost $13.5-15.5 million. This would not have included any updating to the brickwork, building structure, or windows, which will need to be addressed within the next 5 years.

• Educational spaces do not meet future-ready learning needs and demands.

• Building infrastructure is not acceptable, especially in regards to safety and accessibility.

• It has a failing building envelope.

• The building has a lack of safe, secure, and accessible entryways.

• There are many unused classrooms and spaces throughout the school.

• The building has deficient air quality.

The existing Middle/High School building provides more site space for expansion and safety, it is newer, has an updated building infrastructure, and is a single story facility providing improved accessibility for all students.

Re-investing and updating the infrastructure of the facility with “Good Bones” will continue to serve the District for many years to come.

If we combine schools, the District would SAVE $20,000-$30,000 per year in utility costs.

Learn more

According to the Minnesota Department of Education, the square footage per student guidelines for elementary schools with enrollment of less than 550 students is 125-155 gross square feet (gsf) per student. Including additions and renovation, the new elementary in Graceville will have 27,447 gsf dedicated to elementary instruction.

• The district projects 158 elementary students in 2027-2028, which is 173 gsf per student. This is above the recommended guidelines of 125-155 gsf from the Minnesota Department of Education.

• If CGB elementary enrollment grew to 174, a 10% increase from the 2027-2028 total, there would be 157 gsf per student. This is above the recommended guidelines of 125-155 gsf from the Minnesota Department of Education.

There would also be a substantial utility savings with a smaller footprint and a new more efficient HVAC. 

The estimated tax impact of the average home value of $101,500 is $8. Visit our Tax Impact webpage to use the tax calculator or view tax charts. 

The future of the Clinton Elementary School building hasn't been determined yet. We are working on a solution that will benefit our communities.

Yes, CGB staff members were a part of the original assessment planning process and some were also on the Community Advisory Committee.

Yes, CGB staff members will have the opportunity to weigh in on final planning decisions.

The CGB District and School Board have approached this process deliberately over 30 months beginning in the summer of 2021. It was a priority to gather all of the necessary information, including engineering reports, facility improvement options and costs, and tax implications before any decision was made. The district also wanted to ensure that there was feedback from District staff, the Community Advisory Committee, and a community-wide survey in order to determine community support and the best long-term plan for the District.

Process Timeline:

• SUMMER OF 2021
  SitelogIQ engaged by CGB to perform a comprehensive analysis of their existing buildings

• DECEMBER 2021
  Comprehensive Facilities Assessment conducted by SitelogIQ - assess physical, educational, functional needs

• MARCH 2022
  Facility Assessment Review is presented to the School Board and District administration

• NOVEMBER 2022
  School Board has a comprehensive review including prioritizations, project scenarios, and potential costs

• MARCH 2023
  School Board has 4 workshopping sessions between December 2022 and March 2023

• MAY 2023
  Community Advisory Committee is formed and meets 5 consecutive weeks to review school finances, facility assessments, and tour buildings

• JUNE 2023
  Community-wide survey is taken by 350 residents, results presented to board

• JUNE 2023
  Community Advisory Committee makes a final recommendation to the School Board

• JUNE 2023
  School Board approval of Petition/Resolution calling for an election

• JULY 2023
  Review and Comment submitted to the State of Minnesota

• AUGUST 2023
  School Board adopts a formal resolution calling for an election - notice and ballot

• NOVEMBER 2023
  Referendum Election

In short, that is not true. The District was presented with multiple facility improvement options throughout the process, all based on suggestions from either the School Board or the Community Advisory Committee. There were multiple plans presented, ranging from what the community group named the “band aid” option, with light mechanical upgrades in Clinton at $5.5M, to a new separate elementary school estimated at $35.2M.

The option that was recommended by the Community Advisory Committee and unanimously chosen by the School Board, the $25M plan, was developed following feedback from the committee. It was chosen because it is more cost effective than the construction of a new school and it best met the District’s goal of providing optimal learning experiences for ALL students to prepare them to excel in tomorrow’s world. This plan is the best option to maintain the long-term viability of the district.

The option that is being considered on November 7, 2023 was developed following guidance from the Community Advisory Committee. The first plans, developed with suggestions from the School Board, were presented to the committee, but failed to inspire them. The committee felt that if the Clinton building was to be closed, which was the consensus of the group, the new facility should better focus on preparing students to excel after graduation and maintain the long-term viability of the District. The final proposal incorporated suggestions from the community and received a clear majority consensus recommendation from the Community Advisory Committee and a unanimous vote from the School Board.

Feel free to contact Superintendent Brad Kelvington by clicking HERE, speak to a School Board member, or contact one of the 25 people that participated in the community focus group meetings. The most important thing is to get your questions answered from someone who can give an accurate response. It’s important to know the facts so that you can make an informed vote on November 7, 2023.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is an educational program that focuses on providing students with the knowledge, skills, hands-on learning experiences, and expertise necessary to pursue specific career paths.

CTE includes a wide range of programs, such as:

• Construction

• Trades (plumbing, electrical, mechanical)

• 3D modeling

• Manufacturing, machining, and welding

• Small engine repair and autos

• Robotics

• Engineering (design, layout, CAD, etc.)

• CTE programs benefit all students, and help them gain employment skills, life skills, technical knowledge, and the training they need to thrive in today’s and tomorrow’s workforce. 

• CTE and career-ready programs offer the greatest chance for students sticking with school, graduating, and pursuing a career right out of high school, or choosing to enroll in college. 

• When our students can see how their learning directly correlates with what their goals are after high school, they stay engaged and focused. CTE programs help students make connections between school and the real world. 

• Through CTE programs, students can attain the skills they need in high school to be employable right after graduation. 

• CTE programs help students learn and practice critical 21st Century skills including creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. 

• CTE programs do so much more than simply prepare students for jobs in skilled careers. These programs create higher graduation rates, increase understanding in science and math, teach critical soft skills like creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, and help students explore potential career paths. 

• CTE associate degrees can pay $10,000 more per year than associate degrees in other fields – and can even pay more than bachelor’s degrees – while limiting student debt. 

• CTE is the answer to the nation’s projected deficit of 6.5 million skilled workers, including infrastructure and manufacturing work-force shortages. 

• CTE students earn industry certifications and licenses, postsecondary certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees and higher. 

• Fulfills employer needs that are high skill, high wage, and high demand jobs. 

• This project takes the traditional “shop class” into the 21st Century and prepares students for relevant and meaningful careers right here in our community. 

Both the district and the board believe that utilizing SitelogIQ is the best choice for this project. 

• SitelogIQ was responsive to the district and had the capacity to determine why the cooling wasn’t working at the Graceville site in 2021, determined that a leak in the ceiling was related to the HVAC system, and fixed the issue on time and under budget.

• Additionally, because of the completed work of an earlier roof leak and HVAC issue, the board and administration developed a trusting relationship with SitelogIQ as they provided value and delivered an HVAC solution for the district at a time of great need.  

• SitelogIQ offers their services at a fixed cost, unlike many in the industry. This makes them the most fiscally responsible choice because there will be no financial surprises at any point of the process. 

• SitelogIQ has all the necessary departments in-house, such as engineers, architects, community engagement, construction managers, and project managers. There is not a need to contract outside services, which saves costs.

This is a special election, not a general election. The laws are different in Big Stone County for special elections. People can absentee early vote in person from Sept. 22-Nov. 6 in Ortonville at the Big Stone County Auditor/Treasurer’s Office or vote on election day on Nov. 7 at Graceville City Hall. There is also early voting on Saturday before election day. It’s at the Big Stone County Auditor/Treasurer’s Office and will be open from 9-3 on Saturday November 4.

Additionally, in Minnesota you can vote early with an absentee ballot starting 46 days before Election Day. Details and links for more information are here: https://sites.google.com/graceville.k12.mn.us/ref23/voting