FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When is the referendum?

• Election day is August 12, 2025 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. There are also several options to vote early. Make your plan to vote by visiting the voting information webpage.

Why are these projects necessary now?

• Our school buildings are more than 65 years old and face serious challenges—including leaking roofs, outdated heating and ventilation systems, lead in the water, and ADA accessibility concerns. These issues affect everyday safety, health, and learning. Addressing them now, in a single, well-planned project allows the district to protect its facilities and avoid the risk of more costly problems down the road.

  • • Urgent priorities: Items like asbestos removal, clean water, air quality, roof repairs, and ADA access can’t wait years for separate fixes through separate referendums

    • Cost control: Coordinating projects helps avoid rising prices, repeat setup costs, and overlapping labor

    • Taxpayer value: A single bid process creates bidding efficiencies, reduces soft costs, and gives residents a more predictable financial picture

    • Fewer disruptions: One project means fewer classroom interruptions—and faster access to healthy, functional spaces for students and staff

How was this plan developed?

• This plan reflects years of work and listening. While the current proposal was developed over the past six months, the district has been studying its facility challenges since 2016. After the 2023 referendum failed, the School Board carefully considered feedback from a community-wide survey, listening sessions, and board meetings to better understand what residents believe is most important and likely to earn support.

• The result is a more practical, cost-conscious plan that focuses on core priorities—health, safety, and long-term value. It was developed with input from architects, engineers, and school finance professionals, and has been reviewed and approved by the Minnesota Department of Education.

What’s different from the failed 2023 referendum?

• The 2023 plan proposed building a new school based on recommendations from a community task force. While that plan had support, it did not pass—and the School Board committed to listening and learning from that outcome.

• This new plan focuses on renovating and improving our existing schools. It reflects community feedback to pursue a more affordable, practical solution that addresses critical facility needs while helping sustain the district for the future.

How did our buildings fall so far into disrepair?

• Like many small rural school districts in Minnesota, Glenville-Emmons receives limited funding for facility upkeep. About 75% of the district’s funding comes from the State, with most of it designated for day-to-day operations like staff salaries, classroom materials, and utilities. Building improvements and equipment replacements are primarily the responsibility of the local community.

• Without a bond referendum, there hasn’t been enough funding to complete major repairs like roofing, HVAC, or plumbing. As these projects were delayed, conditions worsened—leaks became more severe, air quality declined, and costs rose with inflation.

• Although we have a smaller enrollment, we can sustain regular operational costs. This referendum is our opportunity to catch up on deferred maintenance and make a long-term investment in a healthy, sustainable future.

Didn’t we just pass a referendum? What was that money used for?

• The district’s last successful referendum was in 2018, and it was an operating referendum—not for buildings. Operating referendums (or levy overrides) provide funding for day-to-day school operations such as teacher salaries, educational materials, and utilities. They are not typically used for large facility repairs or improvements.

• The current referendum is different—it is a capital referendum and focuses on the health, safety, and long-term sustainability of our school buildings.

Will these improvements be usable by the community?

• Yes. Several of the planned improvements will directly benefit the broader community. For example, addressing air quality concerns creates a healthier environment for everyone who visits, whether for athletic events, concerts, or student performances.

• The project also includes a renovated weight/fitness room that may be available for community use outside the school day, and updated CTE spaces that could support future community education, skills training, and local partnerships.

What happens if the referendum fails? 

• The referendum allows the district to address many interconnected issues in a coordinated, cost-effective way.

• If the referendum does not pass, many of the facility challenges the district currently faces will remain unresolved—including issues related to health, safety, and accessibility.

• The School Board has stated it may move forward with a reduced scope project—focused primarily on updating the HVAC and roofing system—using its board-approved authority by the State.

  • • Background:  In 1997, the Minnesota legislature granted school boards the authority to maintain and improve specific aspects of their ventilation system (heating and cooling) in schools. This was done through funding programs like Long Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) Large Project and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). The purpose was to ensure that students and staff have a safe and healthy learning environment.

    • While not all deferred maintenance projects are covered, many school districts in Minnesota have used these funds to pay for necessary upgrades.

• However, addressing HVAC and roofing in isolation presents challenges. For example, replacing large mechanical systems may involve placing new equipment on or above aging roof structures, where leaks and long-term deterioration have already been identified. In some cases, it may not be practical—or fiscally responsible—to install major infrastructure without first addressing the underlying conditions that could affect its lifespan or effectiveness.

• Board authority projects are limited in scope and cannot address other critical needs—such as total asbestos remediation, lead in the water, secure entrances, ADA accessibility, or the CTE upgrades and classroom improvements included in the full referendum proposal.

• Like the proposed 2025 referendum, a board authority project would have a tax impact on district residents.

• The table below shows a comparison of what will be included in the 2025 referendum vs. what may be included in a board authority project.