Bond Referendum for Buildings

View the May 9, 2023 Bond Referendum Special Election official Results

Quality public schools are at the core of thriving communities. Many families report choosing to live in District 196 because of the quality of the schools, the opportunities for students and our Triple-A, whole-child approach to learning through academics, arts and athletics. Quality schools keep demand for housing strong and property values higher.

To ensure adequate and appropriate space to continue the quality of education District 196 families expect, a district committee conducted a nearly two-year review of facilities and equipment needs and developed a phased master plan to address needs in three areas.

Safety and Security – The safety of students, staff and visitors is always our top priority. To ensure safe spaces, our schools need replacement of security camera systems, additional cameras and lighting, updated fire alarm and communication systems, and redesigned bathrooms for improved supervision and added privacy.
Space for Growth – As a destination district for people moving to the area, our need for space continues to grow. To eliminate overcrowding and ensure adequate space for projected enrollment growth in the next 10 years, we need to build new schools and renovate/add to current spaces.
Consistent Experience – We strive to provide students and families the same opportunities in academics, arts and athletics at all of our schools, which were built in different years and have different needs. To do this, we need to update older schools and technology, and build new spaces across the district.

Improvements are proposed to address these needs in a two-question bond referendum election the committee recommended and the School Board approved for Tuesday, May 9, 2023 (absentee voting begins March 24).

If approved by district voters, the bond would improve safety and security at every school, provide additional space for now and the future, address deferred maintenance needs, update learning spaces and add high school activity centers to provide needed space for physical education classes, cocurricular activities and community use. The recommendations include improvements for every school and learning center in the district.

10 Reasons District 196 Is Holding A Bond Referendum

What Improvements are in Question 1 and Question 2?

Question 1 Improvements

Safety and security improvements that would include new and additional security cameras at every site, a districtwide radio communication system, additional outdoor lighting at secondary school sites, replacement of fire alarm systems, and remodel/redesign of some student bathrooms at secondary schools for improved supervision and added privacy.
New elementary school to provide relief for crowding at elementary schools in the southeast part of the district, where most of the current and future housing growth will occur. The district owns land in Rosemount that was purchased as a future school site with funds from the 2015 bond referendum.
New Rosemount Middle School built at a different site to provide a more consistent experience and accommodate future growth. Rosemount Middle is the oldest building in the district and is operating over capacity, with crowded hallways and inadequate core facilities.
Repurpose existing Rosemount Middle School for multiple other possible uses that would be determined later.
Land purchase for new Rosemount Middle School and future use.
Renovated Rosemount High School, completing the project started with the 2015 bond referendum, to provide a more consistent student experience, and a 300-student addition to accommodate future growth.
Additional science labs and upgrades at three middle schools and all four comprehensive high schools to provide a consistent number and size of science labs at schools across each level. Some schools currently use regular classrooms as science labs, without water, due to a lack of lab space.
Addition to Scott Highlands Middle School to provide relief for current overcrowding and space for growth in the southeast part of the district.
Addition to Dakota Ridge School to provide relief for crowding and space for growth in this K-12 special education school, and renovation of the Transition Plus building to provide appropriate facilities to meet the needs of students in this special education program for ages 18-21.
Performance space improvements at secondary schools to provide a more consistent experience.
Furniture replacement to continue the project started with the 2015 bond referendum to provide flexible learning spaces at all schools.

Question 2 Improvements

An addition of activity center space at each comprehensive high school (Eagan, Eastview, Rosemount, Apple Valley)
* Passage of Question 2 is contingent on passage of Question 1

What is the cost and tax impact?

Improvements are proposed to address these needs in a two-question bond referendum election on May 9, 2023 (early voting begins March 24).

Question 1 improvements would cost an estimated $374 million, at a tax impact of $11.50 per month on the average-value home in District 196 ($400,000).

Question 2 improvements would cost an additional $119 million, at a tax impact of $7 per month on the average-value home. Passage of Question 2 is contingent on passage of Question 1.

Calculate the estimated tax impact for your specific property.

What if the referendum questions are not approved?

Important safety, security and maintenance needs would not be addressed.
Overcrowding would continue at schools and worsen with projected enrollment growth.
Aging and inadequate spaces would not be updated and students would continue to have inconsistent learning experiences.
Activity center space would not be built or available for physical education classes, after-school cocurriculars or use by the community.

What is an activity center?

An activity center is a large/tall indoor space with multiple courts or stations that can be used for a variety of activities. Physical education classes use the space during the school day, and cocurricular activities, clubs, citizens and community groups use activity centers at other times. Thirty of the 53 school districts in the Twin Cities area (57%) have at least one activity center.

Why are activity centers needed?

The committee identified a need for larger, more flexible space with tall ceilings that can be used for a variety of activities such as marching band, indoor track practice, spring baseball practice, multiple court community youth and adult tournaments, large science/physics/robotics experiments, etc. These spaces also free up scarce gym space and would allow some outdoor activities to be held indoors in inclement weather.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Didn’t the district just have a referendum election recently?
A: The last special election was a levy referendum in November 2019 to provide operating revenue for additional classroom teachers and staff to address students’ increased mental health needs. This is a bond referendum to address facilities and equipment needs. Levies for learning, bonds for buildings. The last bond referendum in District 196 was in 2015.

Q: When would the new elementary and middle school open?
A: Construction of these schools would be the highest priority because of current overcrowding and need for additional space. If Question 1 is approved, site work could be completed this season, making it possible to open the elementary school in fall 2025 and the middle school in fall 2026.

Q: Why is the bond referendum being held May 9th and not in November?
A: May 9 is one of five dates that school districts are allowed to have elections in 2023. If the district waited until the November general election, it would delay the opening of the elementary school and middle school by a full year each.

Q: Will there be attendance-area boundary changes?
A: Some changes to elementary school attendance areas will be needed in the southeast part of the district either way. If Question 1 is approved, changes would be needed to create an attendance area for the new elementary school. If Question 1 is not approved, the district would initiate a process to look at possible changes to address current overcrowding at East Lake and Rosemount elementary schools.

Q: Why are there two questions?
A: The improvements proposed in Question 1 address the most pressing needs identified by the committee that reviewed district facilities and drafted a phased master plan to address needs. The committee placed activity centers in phase two of the master plan. The district received considerable input at meetings and online advocating for including activity centers as a separate, second question in this bond referendum election. The board agreed to give voters the option for Question 2, with its passage being contingent on passage of Question 1.

Q: What will happen if the bond questions do not pass?
A: Overcrowding and inconsistent experiences would continue, there would be no space for projected enrollment growth, and safety and security needs would remain. There would be a need to look at elementary attendance-area changes and eventually another round of community discussions about how to address these facilities needs in a revised proposal.

Q: How long would taxes on the bond referendum last?
A: If both referendum questions are successful, the district would conduct three separate bond sales within the first three years following the election. In each case, the bonds would have maturities of 20 to 25 years and the district would make payments on the debt until the bonds are paid off, same concept as a home mortgage.

Q: How do tax rates in District 196 communities compare to other areas?
A: Of the 32 Minnesota cities with populations of 30,000 or greater, the 10 with the lowest total tax rates in 2022 include five cities in District 196: Eagan had the lowest tax rate; Apple Valley, second; Lakeville, fifth lowest; Burnsville, sixth, and Inver Grove Heights, ninth lowest. Rosemount would be on the list, but has just under 30,000 residents. Rates include total taxes (city, county and school district). Source: League of Minnesota Cities’ county net tax capacity reports

Q: How will I be impacted if I don't have children enrolled in the district?
A: School district facilities are community resources that are available to all residents. Investing in quality schools helps keep demand for housing strong and property values higher in thriving communities.

Prepared and paid for by Independent School District 196 (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools), 3455 153rd St. W., Rosemount, MN 55068. This publication is not circulated on behalf of any candidate or ballot question.

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