Referendum vote to take place May 9

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

After a school building referendum was narrowly defeated in November, the Henning School Board is hoping for a different result when it seeks an expansive building project referendum on May 9. The two part question will seek to garner the support of a majority of residents within the school district that could improve everything from indoor air quality to remodeling classrooms for the 21st century. 

During its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday night, the school board discussed ways for community outreach to explain the need of the project for the school district, as well as contingency plans for what could happen if the referendum failed for a second time. 

In November the first question of an expansive school building referendum failed by just 26 votes, while a second question failed by just 91 votes. 

This time around, the cost of the first question is currently estimated at $23 million, which will address a number of issues at the school like its aging HVAC system, as well as flipping the entrances of the school to the back of the building, creating a commons area for food services, moving the administrative offices and making some necessary updates/deferred maintenance.

The second question will include largely just the addition of a new larger gym and will cost an estimated $4 million.

Throughout the meeting the school board members and administration stated the items in the project aren’t necessarily a want of the district as they are a need to update the Henning School, which in the newest parts are 30 years old. The referendum will also complete things like tuck pointing that are necessary for any building the current age of the Henning School.

“We just need to get it out there that these are our needs these aren’t our wants,” said school board member Rod Thalmann. “If someone says you just want this…no this is what we need.”

If both parts of the question were to pass this time around, the monthly impact for a residential home owner in the school district for a $100,000 home would be just $17 per month. Should only the first question pass the monthly tax increase would be $14 per month and the second question would cost just $3 per month. The second question cannot pass without the first question also passing by a majority of the voters.

Much of the discussion on Tuesday night surrounded not only outreach, but also what to do should the referendum fail for a second time. The school district heard from representatives from ICS who stated that the school board could levy without a public vote for things like a new gym floor, tuck pointing, dehumidification and HVAC improvements, but that would do nothing to address the need for additional space and remodeling classrooms to fit the educational needs of students today. 

Instead, school board members said moving forward with that plan could result in the school district depleting its long-term facility maintenance fund, while also resulting in an increase in taxes for property owners. 

School board chair Reed Reinbold said if the levy were to fail for a second time his opinion would be to complete as much of the work they can through the board approved levy options as the work needs to be done at the aging school. However, he cautioned doing so would just be putting a band aid on the issue as the work would not be completed the right way.

“We have to do something we have been saying that all along that something needs to be done,” said Reinbold. 

In other news

• Accepted a donation from B&D Foods for summer rec/swimming lessons.

• Accepted the retirement request from Orly Bjerketvedt as a bus driver. He has driven bus for approximately 43 years. 

• Approved holding an open house on Monday, April 10 from 5:30-8 p.m. regarding the upcoming school referendum in May. 

• Approved the renewal with United Health Care for health insurance. 

• Approved an updated Henning Fitness Center Use of Facility Policy pending a review by Pemberton Law. Staff members will no longer offer training and a working key card must be available for those who work out at the facility. Sharing key cards to non members is not allowed. 

• Heard that Otter Tail Central head wrestling coach Jason Rogers has resigned from the position effective immediately. The OTC activities directors will meet to determine the path moving forward. 

• Heard that Eide Bailly sent a letter to the district that as of March 13, 2023 the company will no longer be working with the Henning School District. Later in the meeting, the school board approved seeking an audit for 

• Heard of a shortage of bus drivers is causing difficulties in driving athletes to practices and games for Otter Tail Central athletic activities. Henning School Superintendent Melissa Sparks told the board that the OTC superintendents, business managers and activities directors recently met and will be asking parents to pick up their children from OTC home games, whether that be an Underwood, Battle Lake or Henning home game. Sparks said the school districts will continue to work on a solution to address the shortage of bus drivers moving forward. 

• Approved two snow make up days due to inclement weather. School will now be held on Monday, April 3 for a half of day with conferences being held in the last half of the day. School will also beheld on Monday, April 10, which is the day after Easter. Both days were scheduled days off, but due to the amount of snow days this year, Henning fell below the state guidelines for student contact days. The last day of school for the students will still be on Thursday, May 24.

• Approved the 2023-24 class schedule as presented. Some of the highlights of the schedule include: 78 of 91 eligible students are taking choir, several classes show a small number of students however Williams said some of the smaller classes are bumping up against classes like choir. Currently five students are scheduled to be full-time PSEO off campus next year and 74 hours of online classes have been registered to date.