OPEN HOUSE EVENTS // Swanville School Auditorium // 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. // Wednesday, January 8 or Tuesday, January 14

2025 Referendum Results are In!
Community Shows Support for Continued Investment in Schools!

On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, voters in the Swanville School District considered a one-question bond referendum in an amount not to exceed $13,375,000 for facility and learning environment improvements.

Following the vote, the unofficial election results are 225 YES (51%) and 218 NO (49%) (the vote will become official at the February 19th school board meeting).

Superintendent Travis Hensch expressed appreciation for the community’s engagement and support:

“We’re incredibly grateful to our community for supporting this referendum and to the Staff and Community Task Force members who helped shape its project scope. This investment will enable us to make important health and safety upgrades, enhance and expand learning environments, and address critical building renovations. By working together, we are creating safer, more effective spaces that support our students, staff, and the future of the Swanville community.”

With voter approval, the district will now begin the next phase, including continued design and engineering work with our project partner SitelogIQ.

The district will continue to keep the community informed on the progress of current and future facility projects.

The Swanville School District calls for a special election on February 11, 2025, to authorize general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $13,375,000 for facility and learning environment improvements.

TAX IMPACT

RESOURCES

FAQs

WHERE DO I VOTE?

Watch our Referendum 2025 Video

THE PROJECT SCOPE

WHAT WILL YOU BE VOTING ON IN FEBRUARY?

Safety and Accessibility Upgrades

Create a safe and secure entry for visitors
Upgrade the fire alarm system
Update the restrooms to be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant, including additional restrooms in the new kitchen area

Operational Enhancements

Relocate the main office to improve security and accessibility
Expand the weight room with shower and changing facilities to support current fitness programs

Learning Space Expansion

Build a new elementary addition to include classrooms, a collaborative learning commons, breakout rooms, restrooms, and mechanical space
Create a new art room designed to support current program needs

Facility Renovations

Relocate and expand kitchen to improve traffic flow and accessibility
Renovate the Career and Technical Education (CTE) area to include a new wood shop to meet current educational needs

Site Improvements

Relocate the Early Childhood playground to a more safe and suitable location
Expand the parking lot to accommodate increased building use and new facilities

OFFICIAL BALLOT QUESTION

The school board of Independent School District No.486 (Swanville Public Schools) has proposed a project for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the construction and equipping of a secure entrance; construction, renovations and updates to relocate the main office; the construction and equipping of multi-classroom addition and an addition to the career and technical education (CTE) space; construction, renovation and updates to relocate the kitchen facility and expand the fitness/weight room facility; the completion of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA accessibility improvements to restrooms; the construction and installation of a fire alarm system in the new additions; and the relocation of the early childhood playground. To provide funds for the project costs, the school board has proposed to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $13,375,000.

The school board also proposes to use approximately $320,000 of any remaining proceeds of the School District’s General Obligation Facilities Maintenance Bonds, Series 2023A, originally issued to fund the costs of certain improvements included in the School District’s Indoor Air Quality plan approved by the school board and the Commissioner of Education which have since been completed, to fund the acquisition and betterment of school site and facilities, including the completion of various deferred maintenance projects at school sites and facilities.

CONCEPTUAL FLOOR PLAN

Secure entry vestibule
Relocated admin office
Restrooms and changing room
Expanded weight room
Create restrooms, egress corridor, and storage
Updated and expanded CTE (shop)
Relocated kitchen and serving line
Collaborative learning commons and circulation
Art room
Small group / breakout
Classrooms
New restrooms
ADA compliant restroom updates

CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS

⬇︎ CLICK TO VIEW ⬇︎

COMMONS AREA

ART ROOM

OPEN HOUSE & TOURS

SAVE THE DATE!

We are excited to extend an invitation to attend a building tour and open house opportunity, providing valuable insights into the upcoming 2025 referendum question. Engage with district leadership and inquire about the upcoming February 11, 2025 referendum.

Each evening will start with a brief presentation at 7:00 PM by Superintendent Hensch. Following the presentation, community members will have the chance to tour the building, giving a firsthand look at areas of concern and a deeper understanding of the proposed changes. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. // Swanville School Auditorium

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. // Swanville School Auditorium

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INPUT

A CRITICAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE REFERENDUM QUESTION

The decision to move forward with the referendum was informed by a comprehensive process that involved input from various stakeholders. Multiple meetings were held with students, staff, administration, and the board to fully understand the district’s educational programming needs and to evaluate the long-term readiness of the facilities.

Community engagement played a critical role in shaping the scope of work. A task force, comprised of community members from across the district, met 5 times to tour the building investing over 10 hours of their time doing the following:

Gathering community voice and input from the District community-wide survey.
Extensively touring district facilities.
Examining facility engineering assessments.
Learning about school financing, the District’s current financial position, and funding options from the District’s financial consultant.
Studying district demographics and enrollment information.
Reviewing facility improvement options.

The Task Force came to a unanimous consensus on a recommended path forward, presenting it to the School Board on February 25, 2024.

LEARN MORE ⇨

DID YOU KNOW?

Swanville is GROWING!

The new North Berkey 1st Addition housing development underscores the vibrant growth in our community. Swanville School District's enrollment has steadily risen from 328 to 378 students in just 5 years, with projections reaching up to 385 students by 2027-2028.

Take a look at our projected increase in student enrollment.

(NOTE: these projections DO NOT include any potential families moving in to the North Berkey Addition.)

Aging Infrastructure

The Swanville School District PK-12 building, originally constructed in 1938, has served our community for over 86 years. As the building ages, it is essential to address critical infrastructure needs to ensure the safety, accessibility, and success of our students and staff. These upgrades will create a safer, more efficient environment for both students and staff, ensuring our school meets the needs of today and remains ready for future generations.

Ag2School Tax Credit Program

If the ballot question passes, the State of Minnesota will pay approximately 20% or $2.8 million plus interest of the total cost of the referendum project through the Ag2School Credit Program.
All agricultural property owners will automatically receive a 70% credit on their property tax bills.

Learn more about the Ag2School Tax Credit

PHOTO GALLERY

Explore the photo gallery of facility concerns below by hovering over the photo and clicking the arrows on the left or right side

4 THINGS TO KNOW

Preparing Students for Success in a Modern World

By adding new classrooms and a dedicated Career and Technical Education (CTE) space, we equip our students with the skills and resources they need for the future through access to advanced educational tools and hands-on learning experiences.

Building for a Stronger Future

By tackling critical infrastructure needs now, we’re preparing our school to meet the educational challenges of tomorrow, while being fiscally responsible and directly addressing the priorities of our community.

Inclusive and Accessible for All

Upgrading restrooms to meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards ensures equal access and opportunity for students, staff, and visitors of all abilities.

A School We Can All Be Proud Of

These improvements reinforce the school as the heart of our community, ensuring it stays a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where students can learn and thrive.

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