Referendum on two-part school building project set for May 9

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Residents in the Henning School District will be heading back to the polls for a second time in six months as the school district looks to complete its first major building project in almost 30 years. 

In November the first question of an expansive school building referendum that would have addressed everything from enhancing elementary classrooms to creating a new entrance at the back of the school and improving indoor air quality, failed by just 26 votes. A second question that included repairs to bathrooms and constructing a new gym, failed by just 91 votes. The school district has opted to put a similar plan in front of the school district voters once again on May 9.

Henning School Superintendent Melissa Sparks said the school board did its part in looking beyond the wants of the school district and focused more on the needs to not only enhance the educational learning opportunities in Henning, but also be responsible with the taxpayers money.

“We did our best to keep it at what we needed and not be excessive, because we wanted to be responsible for our taxpayers,” she said. “We tried to take care of our repairs, prioritize the needs and package it all together.”

The referendum, which would be the first major building project at Henning School in almost 30 years, would replace the school’s aging HVAC system, increase security, renovate elementary classrooms, create a dedicated cafeteria and students commons, construct a new career and technical education addition and construct/remodel a number of other rooms and finish some deferred maintenance that is common with a building the age of Henning School.

However, what happens if the referendum were to fair for a second time in six months? 

If that was the case, Sparks said the school board would be forced to make a decision on how it should address the needs for immediate and future maintenance and repairs at the local school. Some of the projects that are being put in front of the voters could be approved without school district voter approval. However, Sparks said the hope is to include these projects with other needs at the school to get the most bang for its buck, while also meeting the needs of students today and in the future. 

For example, should the Henning School Board opt to levy for some of the projects without the voter approval, Sparks said the school district could complete things like a new gym floor (which dates back to the 1960s and has reached the end of its life), tuck pointing, dehumidification and HVAC improvements, as well as potentially create a new parking lot at the back of the building. Due to a limit in available funding, not all of the projects identified by the school district as a need could be completed.

“Yes, we could levy for some of these projects, but the cost to complete these projects would exceed the available (funding),” she said.

  However, Sparks said that a board approved levy would do nothing to address the need for additional space and remodeling classrooms to fit the educational needs of students today. It would also not be the most cost effective way to remodel the school for a new generation of future Henning School students. 

She said the board-approved levy could result in the school district spending down funds, like its Long-Term Facility Maintenance money that are needed for future repairs, to complete the project. Doing so could limit the amount of money that is available in the future to complete repairs at the school and would result in an increase in taxes for property owners throughout the school district. 

More about the referendum

On May 9, the school district will seek $22.7 million for HVAC and security improvements, renovated classrooms, a dedicated cafeteria space and student commons, and provide a career and technical education addition. Other improvements such as updated restrooms, roofing replacement, theater equipment, gym and hallway flooring replacement, and a new parking lot, drop-off loop and playground are also included in the first question. 

As part of the first part of the plan, a new CTE facility will be constructed as part of a new addition near where the current front of the building is located, while the current back of the school will feature a more formal entrance and a new parking lot. 

A second question would provide $4.35 million for a multi-use gymnasium. The multi-use gym would provide additional space for physical education classes, host varsity athletics competitions, provide additional space for indoor recess and enable the school to hold multiple practices and fine arts events simultaneously. Henning School is currently the only school district in the Park Region Conference with only two multi-use gymnasiums, which can limit opportunities for students due to a lack of gym space.

After an expansive construction project in the early 1990s, Henning School has not had a major building project or upgrade in almost 30 years. As technology continues to evolve, some of the design aspects of the building from 30 years ago is not as functional for today’s students who rely on technology more than ever before, as well as teaching that involves more action based learning and not just students sitting in a row as a teacher talks in front of the classroom.

“We will be way more equipped to meet the needs to educate today’s students,” said Sparks of the new elementary classroom design.

In 2022, an educational adequacy assessment was conducted to evaluate the building’s ability to meet the needs of students based on 18 categories identified by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Of the 18 categories, eight areas were found to be inadequate.

The inadequate categories include insufficient spaces for physical education, performing arts and small group work. Others, such as the building’s elementary classrooms, career and technical education space, and cafeteria are graded as “questionably adequate.” A summary of the educational adequacy assessment and the district’s needed maintenance, renovations and additions can be found online at www.OurSchoolOurHornets.org/need.

In addition, things like tuck pointing on the outside of the building and roof repairs need to be done on a building that is 30 years old as part of general maintenance.

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.

Early voting is currently taking place every day school is in session at Henning School at the school. The special election will be held on May 9 at the Henning City Office. 

Editor’s note: This is the first of several articles to be featured in the Citizen’s Advocate in advance of the May 9 special school referendum.