by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
School officials, many parents and students and others were elated late Tuesday night when they learned the $105.8-million Sartell-St. Stephen school bond had been approved by a vote of 2,281 to 2,034.
That was the unofficial voting tally announced on the school district’s website. It was very close, with only a 247 vote difference, approved by 52.9 percent of those who voted.
It was voters within the City of Sartell who were decisive in the bond’s passage. Voters in St. Stephen, Brockway Township and St. Wendel Township nixed the bond request by a 2-1 margin – 584 no votes to 216 yes votes.
The school board will canvass the voting results and make the vote official at its May 27 meeting.
Passage of the school bond will make possible a new high school at a cost of close to $90 million, to be built near Oak Ridge Elementary School. The existing schools will be improved and altered for different grade configurations, with the current high school becoming a middle school, grades 5-8. The existing middle school will house grades 3-5. The two current elementary schools will accommodate pre-K through grade 2.
The $105.8-million school bond will be paid back over a 25-year period.
The next step is to involve school staff, others and architect-designers to create a plan for the high school and grounds. The new school is expected to be ready for students starting in 2019.
Another necessary step is to prepare an operating levy for the schools, expected to bring in up to $100,000 per year.
School District Superintendent Dr. Jeff Schwiebert expressed relief and gratitude the bond was approved.
He posted these comments on the school’s website:
“We in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District wish to sincerely thank our entire community for supporting the bond referendum to provide more space for our students and community; enhanced safety, security and well-being, and flexible learning spaces for the next generation of learners.
“We are honored by the trust and continued support of our school district by a community that believes in strong schools focused on success for all children. We work hard to maintain your confidence in how we manage our financial resources and to show results with your investment through providing excellence in education for all of our stakeholders. Thank you to all of the volunteers – parents, staff and community residents – who gave of their time and talents to get out the vote and build public awareness for the referendum.
