A major highlight of the meeting was the presentation of schematic design documents for an upcoming school construction project. The discussion included an overview of the school layout, with emphasis on new additions and renovations. These included a fitness area, flex classrooms, an administrative area, and a secure entrance, all intended to enhance the educational environment. Concerns were raised about certain design elements, notably a proposed round glass entryway, with feedback suggesting a preference for frosted glass to ensure privacy.

The project’s budget was discussed in detail, revealing a hard construction cost of approximately $15 million, slightly exceeding initial estimates. The board acknowledged that the figures were broad estimates and would be refined monthly. The importance of aligning the project with community needs was underscored, with plans to hold community meetings to gather further input as design development progresses.

Community engagement was another focus, especially regarding a potential referendum to fund educational improvements. A survey was conducted to assess community support for proposed projects, heavily influenced by the prospect of a $7 million IT RB grant. While there was positive support for improvements, no single initiative scored above four on a prioritization scale of one to five.

The survey results showed 91% of respondents had participated in the 2024 referendum, with 58% supporting both questions two and three, although they were ultimately rejected by the broader community. Concerns were expressed about project priorities and the need for clearer communication to align these with community expectations. There was a recommendation to explore a new referendum, given the unique opportunity presented by potential grant support.

The board also discussed the importance of extracurricular activities, with special attention to sports and other organized activities. It was noted that facilities like a multi-use field could serve various educational purposes, particularly for physical education during adverse weather conditions. The need for better messaging around the importance of these facilities and their broader impact on the community was emphasized.

Timing and funding for upcoming projects were topics, with discussions on the necessity of making decisions about a proposed referendum, estimated between $5 million and $7 million. Leveraging existing funds, such as $1.5 million from investments, was considered to potentially reduce the financial burden on the community. A creative analogy compared the funding strategy to an Oprah-style giveaway.

The board agreed on the need for a scientific community-wide survey to gauge broader sentiment toward the referendum. This survey was deemed essential for obtaining a more accurate representation of community perspectives, especially since current discussions were primarily based on feedback from strong supporters. The urgency of this task was highlighted, with a deadline for submitting the review to the Minnesota Department of Education looming in early June.

In addition to discussions on funding and community engagement, the meeting addressed the acceptance of donations for various school initiatives, including a $5,000 contribution for the robotics program. Personnel matters were also covered, with announcements of resignations, new hires, and leaves of absence.