Mahnomen School District Hosts Special Election on Tuesday for $4.5 Million Referendum
Mahnomen, MN — This coming Tuesday, February 8th, Mahnomen School District residents will decide the fate of a $4.5 million building referendum as part of a special election. The district initially made a number of critical investments back in 2016 that included new elementary classrooms, HVAC upgrades, proper bus drop offs, and other site improvements. While those were the most urgent needs, there were still items that were not addressed and should be. In total, the district has identified roughly $16.7 million worth of facility updates that are included in this current facility improvement plan, but are only asking voters for a fraction of the total cost.
If approved by voters, the Facility Improvement Plan would provide additional space to support students, staff, and community, create modernized and collaborative learning areas, and address critical facility needs in the aging school, according to Mahnomen Superintendent Jeff Bisek.
Superintendent Bisek adds that times have changed since the school was first built, and so have the needs of students and the way we educate them.
Other highlights from the Mahnomen School’s proposed building plan include constructing a new a greenhouse for the ag programs, creating a new culinary arts lab, adding five additional classrooms in the high school wing, relocating the district office to the south entrance, and providing modern learning spaces in the elementary.
If the $4.5 million building referendum is approved, the tax impact on a $150,000 home is estimated at $6.41 a month.
Mahnomen School District voters can vote early through February 7th at the district office during regular office hours or on election day, February 8th, at the Mahnomen High School gymnasium from 7am until 8pm.
More information on the referendum is available on the Mahnomen School website or also at www.ourstudentsourfamiliesourfuture.org.