by Dennis Dalman
Early absentee voting starts Feb. 21 for a bond-referendum election concerning Apollo High School that will take place Tuesday, April 8 throughout the St. Cloud Area School District, including St. Joseph.
Many young St. Joseph residents attend Apollo. The St. Cloud School District includes eight cities, besides St. Cloud.
On the ballot are two questions.
Question 1: The referendum will ask voters to consider approving many improvements and additions to Apollo, which was built 55 years ago. They include creating a safe, secure entrance to the school; fire-safety updates; expansion of the school’s kitchen and food-serving area; construction of a storm shelter, renovations to improve facilities for the teaching of technical education, art, music, performing arts and science; a culinary lab for students studying for food-service careers; updated facilities for students planning careers in forms of community management, engineering and manufacturing; and expansion of auto-mechanic bays for students to learn vehicle repair and diesel mechanics.
That ballot question notes the price tag for those improvements and additions is an amount not to exceed $50 million in general obligation bonding.
Question 2: This referendum question is a request for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities. It includes but is not limited to an indoor multi-purpose athletic facility at Apollo for use by the school district as well as for rentals by others in the school district. The general obligation bond will not exceed $15 million, it states on the ballot question. In order for Question 2 to be approved, Question 1 must also be approved by a majority of voters.
In early November of 2024, at a school-board member meeting, the referendum questions were presented in detail by Apollo Principal Justin Skallerud and School District Superintendent Laurie Putnam. More recently, those two officials conducted public tours of Apollo to show the public first-hand the long-overdue improvements to the school.
Later, on Nov. 20, the school board unanimously agreed to place those referendum questions for the public’s consideration at the April 8 special election.
A study was released stating that if both questions are approved, an average homeowner with a home valued at $250,000 would pay $3.33 more per month in taxes.
Walking tour set March 15
Principal Justin Skaalerud and Superintendent Laurie Putnam will give a walking tour at Apollo High School and deliver information on the April 8 referendum from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 15.
The two-question referendum addresses critical safety needs and improvements at Apollo High School as well as the construction of a multi-purpose indoor athletic facility. Question one must pass for Question two to be approved. If both questions pass, the tax impact for the average homeowner of a $250,000 home in District 742 would be $3.33 per month.
For future referendum presentation dates and more information, go to https://www.isd742.org/referendum.
Other info sessions
Coffee and conversation with Superintendent Putnam
9 a.m. Friday, March 14 at the District Administration Office (1201 Second St. S., Waite Park)
Public presentations
6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 at Apollo High School before the Choir Concert (1000 44th Ave. N., St. Cloud)
10 a.m.-noon Monday, March 24 at Whitney Senior Center (1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud)
Information sessions
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, League of Women Voters hosts at District Administration Office (1201 Second St. S., Waite Park)
Three sessions will be held Saturday, March 29 at the Great River Regional Library (1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud) at 10 a.m. (English) at 11:30 a.m. (Spanish) and 1 p.m. (Somali).
For more information, go to https://www.isd742.org/referendum.
Voting information
On Election Day (Tuesday, April 8), polls in the school district will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Voters will vote at the same polling places (locations) they did in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election.
To find your polling place, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State website and follow the prompts.
St. Joseph has two polling places, as follows.
Precinct 1 polling place: All residents living west of CR 121/College Avenue/CR 2 and all residents living north of CR 75 should vote at Heritage Hall, 12 Minnesota St. W. It’s attached to the east side of the St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Precinct 2 polling place: All residents living east of CR 121/College Avenue/CR 2 and all residents living south of CR 75 should vote at the St. Joseph Government Center, 75 Callaway St. E.
Absentee Voting
Starting Feb. 21, school-district voters can vote early by casting absentee ballots in the St. Cloud Area School District 742 Administration Office, located at 1201 Second St. S. in Waite Park. Voting hours there are from 7:30-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Extended absentee voting times at the Administration Office are from 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 1; from 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, April 3; and from 9 am.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 5.
To find our more about the election and/or to request an absentee ballot, visit the following website: isd742.org/referendum. Then down on the left side of that main page, click on “Polling and Voting Information.” When that page opens, scroll down to “Absentee Voting” in large blue letters. Continue to scroll down to “Absentee Ballot Application” (also in blue letters). Click on that. A ballot application will appear. Read all directions, fill out the application (it can be downloaded to a printer).
The absentee ballot can be returned to:
Randy R. Schreifels/Auditor-Treasurer
Stearns County Service Center
3301 Country Road 138
Waite Park, MN 56387
The phone number of the County Service Center is 320-656-3920. Its email is elections@stearnscountymn.gov.
Apollo High School in St. Cloud is now 55 years old and in need of improvements and updates, according to the St. Cloud Area School District, which includes St. Joseph.
