FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Election day is Tuesday, November 4, 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.

The district has already completed many smaller projects over the past several years using its regular budget. What remains are larger projects—like HVAC, plumbing, and roofing—that cannot be funded within the regular budget. 

• Two independent engineering assessments (2022 and 2025) confirmed these systems are beyond their expected lifecycle and need attention. 

• Addressing them now helps ensure safe, reliable, and comfortable learning environments for students and avoids the risk of costly unexpected breakdowns.

The referendum includes projects at all PreK-12 schools, each addressing specific needs identified by the community, staff, and engineering studies. See our home page for project scope specifics.

The plan reflects several years of community input combined with findings from two comprehensive facility assessments and financial planning. 

• More than 600 residents provided feedback through a 2025 survey. 

• Facility task forces in 2023 and 2025 included members from across the district’s communities and gave unanimous recommendations. 

• Public forums were held in Le Center, Montgomery, and Lonsdale.  

The referendum invests in improvements across all of our PreK–12 schools, benefiting students, families, and communities districtwide. Projects at each location are tailored to the long-term commitment and unique needs of each site. 

• TCU Le Center PreK-8 has received nearly $10 million in improvements since 2019, and the referendum adds another $11.8 million of infrastructure and learning space improvements - more than $21 million total. 

• TCU Lonsdale PreK-6 addition addresses school capacity and the growth we are seeing in this part of the district. 

• TCU Montgomery PreK–8 projects focus on infrastructure, modernization, and updated learning spaces. 

• TCU High School will see an addition to include expanded weight room, additional locker rooms, and secure entrance with athletic offices for improved safety, privacy, and supervision. 

• Keeping all of our schools strong is central to TCU’s long-term vision. 

A bond referendum, like the one proposed for Tuesday, November 4th, is used to raise funds for building projects—like new schools, renovations, or major repairs (such as roofs, HVAC, or classroom additions). Voters must approve it, and the funds can only be used for facility-related expenses.

• In contrast, an operating levy provides ongoing funding for everyday school costs like staff, supplies, and programs. A technology levy specifically supports classroom and district technology, such as devices, software, and networks.

• In short:

  • • Bond = buildings

    • Operating levy = people and programs

    • Technology levy = devices and digital tools

If the referendum question totaling $39.99 million is approved, the tax increase for a $300,000 home would be approximately, on average, $5.85 per month for taxes payable in 2026. The district is timing this bond with expiring debt so new payments take the place of previous payments. This helps keep overall taxes more level and avoids sharp increases from year to year. 

• Expiring debt means that as old bonds are paid off, new payments “wrap in,” making the impact more consistent. 

• Exact impact depends on property type and location; an official calculator will be available on the referendum website. 

• Farmers receive the 70% Ag2School credit, which further reduces the impact on agricultural land. 

For more details—including charts, examples, and an online calculator to estimate your specific impact—please visit the Tax Impact page on this website.

Right now, the district is sharing cost estimates, not actual construction bids. That’s because designs aren’t finalized until funding is approved. Once that happens, contractors submit official bids, and the school board chooses the vendors–just like with most public projects.

• Cost estimates are based on current market data—including projected inflation and construction trends for 2027

• If voters approve the referendum, final designs are completed

• Contractors submit bids based on the approved final designs

• The school board selects vendors following state bidding laws

• This process isn’t led by a company or an outside group. Every decision stays local, with the school boards overseeing all spending, contracts, and timelines. All work will be publicly bid to ensure fairness and transparency. It’s a step-by-step process built to protect taxpayers and provide full accountability.

The Ag2School Credit is a tax credit program created by the Minnesota Legislature in 2017 to reduce the property tax burden on agricultural landowners for school building bonds. The credit covers 70% of the school bond tax impact on agricultural land—a substantial savings.

• If you own agricultural land, the Ag2School Tax Credit significantly reduces your cost for this referendum and helps rebalance the burden—bringing farmers’ share more in line with that of residential property owners. It provides a 70% property tax credit on school building bonds for ag land—automatically applied, with no application required. (The credit does not apply to the house, garage, and one acre surrounding the homestead.)

• If the TCU School District referendum passes on November 4, 2025, agricultural landowners will see a 70% credit on their property tax bill related to the impact of the referendum.

• The Ag2School Tax Credit will result in the State of Minnesota paying approximately 20% of the district’s debt payments for this bond. This includes about $7,982,004 of the $39,990,000 bond amount.

Please visit our Ag2School Tax Credit webpage for more information.

The auditorium at Le Center will be taken down and the space will be converted into green space. A specific timeline for this change has not yet been set. 

The Primary Center is valued and remains in active use supporting SW Metro Services programming, staff training, youth activities, and district storage needs. The building will continue to be maintained, invested in, and utilized by the district.

The building will remain in use and well-maintained. The district will also invite community input on possible future uses.

No. The TCU Le Center PreK–8 building is a key part of TCU’s long-term plan. The school board and district leadership have consistently reaffirmed this commitment—through public statements and major investments.

• $9.5 million in improvements have already been completed since 2019 (HVAC, boilers, parking, air quality).

• Over $11 million in additional improvements are planned as part of the 2025 referendum.

These actions reflect a clear investment in Le Center—not closure.

📌 CLICK HERE TO VIEW LE CENTER PreK-8 FLOOR PLAN

Lonsdale Elementary is nearing capacity, and enrollment is projected to continue growing in the years ahead. The building currently has limited space for small group instruction, intervention services, and specialty programs like Early Childhood and Family Education (ECFE). Several classrooms and support staff are already working in shared or repurposed spaces, which limits flexibility for both students and teachers.

• Adding new classrooms, breakout spaces, restrooms, and a collaborative learning commons will give the school room to serve both current and future students—and allow the district to avoid overcrowding or the need to reassign students to other sites. The addition is designed to meet projected needs over the next 20 years and will be constructed as a storm shelter for student and staff safety.

• This project reflects feedback from both community task forces and public forums, where space limitations at the Lonsdale building were consistently identified as a top concern.

📌 CLICK HERE TO VIEW LONSDALE PreK-6 FLOOR AND SITE PLAN

• New students bring state funding (about $10,300 per student annually) that supports the entire district.

• Higher enrollment helps maintain staffing and programming at all schools.

• It strengthens district finances and reduces the impact of open enrollment out.

• The result: more stability, better opportunities, and long-term sustainability for the whole district.

The existing auditorium at Montgomery will be converted into classrooms and a shared learning space.

• This repurposing addresses current space needs without new construction.

• It reflects community and staff feedback, and was supported by both the 2023 and 2025 community facility task forces.

This approach makes better use of existing space in a cost-effective way.

📌 CLICK HERE TO VIEW MONTGOMERY PreK-8 FLOOR PLAN

As part of the 2025 referendum proposal, Tri-City United High School is planning a modest addition that includes an expanded weight room, additional locker rooms, and a secure entrance with athletic offices. This project addresses long-standing space and functionality challenges, driven by increased student participation and evolving facility needs in today’s educational environment.

Weight Room Expansion Supports Student and Program Growth

• The current weight room serves a wide range of students, including 10 athletic teams, a growing weightlifting program, co-curricular physical education classes, and students with special needs who rely on the space for health and wellness. As participation and programming continue to grow, the space has become too limited to safely and effectively meet these needs.

• Because fitness equipment requires clear space around it to be used safely, expanding the weight room will provide the necessary space to reduce safety risks, support program growth, and ensure accessibility for students of all abilities. This improvement reflects how the space is used today and how it should function in the future.

Locker Room Needs During Busy Events

• Currently, the high school has only two locker rooms, which creates significant challenges when hosting events. This has become more difficult with TCU’s move to the Big South Conference and the increase in student participation. On busy nights when multiple events are taking place, there simply is not enough space to accommodate all teams.

• To work around this, visiting teams are sometimes assigned to areas such as the band or music rooms, or the Performing Arts Center—spaces not designed for changing. This creates student privacy concerns. It is also not consistent with what our student-athletes experience when competing at other schools. Many comparable high schools have four locker rooms, providing greater flexibility and a better experience when hosting.

The addition also includes a secure, dedicated entrance for the activities wing, along with space to allow for enhanced supervision. Overall, this addition is a practical response to real needs. It will help TCU use its space more effectively, better serve students, and ensure the facility aligns with the expectations of today’s educational and extracurricular programs.

📌 CLICK HERE TO VIEW HIGH SCHOOL ADDITION FLOOR AND SITE PLAN

We’re incredibly grateful for the generous support from families, booster clubs, businesses, and individuals who have contributed to the high school weight room. These donations have always been intended for equipment purchases, not construction or expansion of the space.

The fundraising plan was developed for three stages. The first stage is already complete and has resulted in the purchase of several new, high-quality pieces of equipment for the high school. Older equipment was relocated to the Le Center middle school weight room, which has been well received by students, including those who use that space during the summer.

The 2025 referendum proposal includes an expansion of the weight room. This means that the donation fund will continue to be used exactly as intended—to outfit the space with equipment and tools that support student wellness, training, and strength development.

In short, the community’s donations are still making a meaningful difference and will remain focused on providing quality equipment for student use, both now and if the space grows.

Staff will be directly involved in shaping design details if the referendum is approved.

• Staff input has already helped shape priorities through surveys, forums, and task force participation. 

• The design phase comes after referendum funding is secured, when details like classroom layouts, finishes, and equipment are determined. 

• By law, funds can only be used for the specific projects listed on the ballot—nothing else.

• SitelogIQ, the district's professional services firm, was chosen to provide professional services including engineering, architecture, commissioning, and project management—all which are included in their fee.

• The school district will go to bid on all equipment and labor.

• The school board, not SitelogIQ, oversees all spending, contracts, and purchases, ensuring local control. Any cost savings remain with the district, and no funds can be used for salaries, benefits, or daily operations.

• A competitive bidding process ensures efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and regular public updates will maintain accountability.

State law requires any remaining bond funds to be used only for:

• 1. Other eligible facility needs already on the district’s long-term list, or

  2. Paying down debt to save on long-term costs.

     • Funds cannot be used for salaries, programs, or non-capital purposes. All decisions would go through the school board and be shared with the public.

Yes. The Minnesota Department of Education issued a favorable Review and Comment. A summary is available upon request from the district office by emailing kbabcock@tcu2905.us.

Yes. The School Board and leadership team carefully reviewed a long list of needs across all buildings. While many important items were identified, not all of them could be included in this referendum proposal. The district made intentional, financially responsible choices to focus on the most urgent facility priorities, those related to safety, efficiencies, accessibility, and aging infrastructure.

In making these decisions, the Board also relied on findings from two comprehensive facility assessments. These assessments, completed by engineering and planning professionals, helped identify building conditions and long-term needs across the district.

In no particular order, these are some items that remain on the table for future consideration:

• An additional gym as part of the Lonsdale Elementary addition

• Creating a Life Skills lab

• Athletic facility updates such as a new concession stand, bleachers, and a turf field

• Upgrades to air handling systems at the high school and Montgomery

• District office relocation to create a centralized Special Education suite

• Standardizing building management systems

• Replacing older inefficient windows

These are still valuable improvements and will be revisited if funds remain after design and bidding phases, or as part of future planning. The Board’s goal was to propose a plan that balances educational benefit and facility stewardship with community affordability, and that meant making some tough but measured decisions.