Schools press voters for building cash as all-day kindergartens bulge

The 20 kindergartners chattering away in this Wayzata classroom are Birchview Elementary students. But they're not in Birchview. They're a block away at Central Middle School.

Four kindergarten classes occupy a wing of the middle school, away from the older sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. They're here because Birchview couldn't handle the influx of all-day students this fall.

The elementary school has been crowded "for many years," principal Sam Fredrickson said. "With the onset of all-day kindergarten we just couldn't fit everyone in the building."

Birchview will be fine. Wayzata district voters in February backed a $109 million bond package that includes a new elementary school to ease the district's space crunch.

School leaders across the state hope voters will be similarly generous on Election Day.

Twenty-six districts are asking taxpayers on Tuesday to fund nearly $500 million in proposed school construction. The need stems partly from the Legislature's decision to fund all-day kindergarten. With more students spending the entire day in school, some districts say they've run out of space for students, especially in elementary schools.

Before all-day kindergarten, morning and afternoon students could share the same classroom. Now, kindergartners are in school all day, doubling the need for classroom space.

Minnesota lawmakers approved $134 million last year to fund all-day kindergarten, a move roundly applauded by the state's education leaders. Fredrickson, however, points out that money only pays for costs like hiring more kindergarten teachers.

"The state funds the operational costs, but they didn't fund the infrastructure costs," he said. "It caused a lot of districts to say 'Whoa, what are we going to do here?'"

So far this year 22 districts have asked voters to approve taxpayer funded construction levies; 15 passed. Those districts now have more than $400 million to build new schools, and add or renovate classrooms.

There are about twice as many school bond questions on ballots this year compared to typical years, said Minnesota School Boards Association spokesman Greg Abbott.

Most of the requests can be tied to the need for more space for all-day kindergarten students, he added.

The largest on Tuesday's ballot will be in Elk River, Minnesota, where school leaders want voters to approve a $98 million bond package.

Some of that money would go toward a new building serving pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade, in part to make space for more all-day kindergartners in the district.

While school construction requests are up this year, requests for operating levies — the extra money districts ask voters for so they can hire teachers and pay day-to-day costs — are the lowest since 1995, Abbott said.

That's likely because, after years of flat education funding, schools have seen an increase in state support in recent years, he added.

Schools have seen "at least a 2 or 3 percent" increase in general education funding since the state closed its budget gap, Abbott said, adding, "every little bit helps."

Levies on the ballot

Districts seeking approval for building bonds and capital projects: Ada-Borup - Facilities improvements - $4,700,000
Caledonia - One-day bond - $495,000
Centennial - Remodel and enhance safety $49,935,000
Columbia Heights - Capital projects levy for technology -$10,000,000
Eagle Valley - Expand preschool, add classrooms, auditorium - $6,900,000
Elk River - New elementary, additions, security - $98,030,000
Grand Meadow additions, phy ed complex - $3,000,000
Herman-Norcross - Capital projects levy for technology, busses, repairs $5,000,000
Minnewaska - Repairs and renovations - $8,750,000
Moose Lake - New preschool-12 building - $34,700,000
Mora - Elementary school additions - $18,400,000
New London-Spicer - Performing arts center/gym, school additions - $14,630,000
Nashwauk-Keewatin - Capital projects levy - $2,500,000
Norman County East - Capital projects levy $2,750,000
Paynesville Area - Capital projects levy for repairs and technology $2,030,000
Question 2 gym and community center $ 7,800,000
Pierz - School additions - $4,750,000
Robbinsdale - Capital projects levy for technology - $3,500,000
Roseau - One-day bond $495,000
Rushford - Peterson - New school - $38,165,000
Sauk Centre - Capital projects levy for technology - $600,000
Sibley East -New elementary school, additions - $43,045,000
St. Anthony-New Brighton - Capital projects levy for curriculum and technology - $4,500,000
Wabasso - Additions and renovations - $8,200,000
Waconia - New school, remodel of middle and high schools - $75,000,000
West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan - Capital projects levy for technology $1,200,000
Question 2 security upgrades at schools $ 3,200,000
Question 3 high school athletic stadium $ 4,500,000
West Central Area - Renovations, improvements to schools - $5,000,000

Operating referendums on the ballot

ACGC $804 per pupil
Ashby $903 per pupil
Barnesville $552 per pupil
Bemidji
Big Lake $600 per pupil
Question 2 $100 per pupil
Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart $180 per pupil
Centennial $770 per pupil
Clearbrook-Gonvick
Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley $674 per pupil
Columbia Heights $608 per pupil
Eden Prairie $2,006 per pupil
Question $150 per pupil
Elk River Area
Fillmore Central $292 per pupil
Herman-Norcross $700 per pupil
Kittson Central $3,846 per pupil
Lac qui Parle Valley $866 per pupil
Lake City $968 per pupil
Question $153 per pupil
Lancaster $800 per pupil
Lewiston-Altura $304 per pupil
Lynd $1,615 per pupil
Mahtomedi $593 per pupil
Marshall County Central $529 per pupil
Norman County East $1,550 per pupil
Norman County West $958 per pupil
Pipestone Area $1,845 per pupil
Red Lake County Central
Robbinsdale Area $1,418 per pupil
Round Lake-Brewster $1,524 per pupil
Southland $1,205 per pupil
Spring Grove $1,452 per pupil
St. Anthony-New Brighton
Swanville $361 per pupil
Truman $454 per pupil
Wabasha-Kellogg $989 per pupil
Warren-Alvarado-Oslo $2,200 per pupil
West Central Area $1,851 per pupil
Westonka $674 per pupil
Worthington $500 per pupil
Yellow Medicine East $695 per pupil

District building bonds and capital projects voted on in 2014

Wayzata - High school addition, new elementary $109,000,000 - Passed 2/25/2014
2nd question technology levy $2,700,000 - Passed 2/25/2014
Shakopee - New high school - $78,000,000 - Failed 3/11/2014
Grand Meadow - School expansion - $13,700,000 Failed 3/11/2014
Byron - Pre-K school, land - $25,300,000 Passed 3/11/2014
Jordan - Upgrades, middle school remodel & additions - $29,345,000 - Passed 3/11/2014
2nd question - Community center, additions - $5,245,000 passed 3/11/2014
West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan - Technology levy - $1,700,000 Failed 5/6/2014
2nd question - Early learning center; security upgrades - $11,200,000 - Failed 5/6/2014
Dover-Eyota - Upgrades, additions to elementary school - $7,400,000 Passed 5/7/2014
2nd questions - Upgrade athletic facilities - Passed - $1,250,000
Long Praire-Grey Eagle districtwide deferred maintenance $ 9,000,000 Passed 5/8/2014
Fergus Falls upgrade sports facilities $ 2,700,000 Passed 5/13/2014
Cedar Mountain - Upgrade elementary and high school & additions - $7,700,000 - Passed 5/13/2014
Pine Island - New school - $22,000,000 - Passed 5/13/2014
2nd question - Auditorium - $ 11,250,000 - Passed 5/13/2014
Litchfield - Technology levy - $3,200,000 - Passed 5/13/2014
Lakeview - Addition to school - $7,980,000 - Passed - 5/13/2014
Stewartville - New elementary school - $25,000,000 - Passed 5/20/2014
Kasson-Mantorville - Building improvements and additions - $39,800,000 - Passed 5/20/2014
Forest Lake - New high school; improvements at other schools - $188,000,000 Failed 5/20/2014
Underwood - Upgrade music, fitness facilities - $3,400,000 Passed 5/20/2014
Princeton - New K-2 elementary and security upgrades - $29,950,000 - Passed 5/20/2014
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial - Capital levy for technology - $12,000,000 - Passed 8/12/2014
New Ulm - Renovations, construction and land acquisition - $46,900,000 Passed 8/12/2014
Renville County West - Additions and renovations - $4,900,000 - Failed 8/12/2014
Barnum - Remodel, additions and land acquisition - $17,015,000 Fail 8/12/2014