School board schedules survey mailing, weighs $33 million bond concept with CTE and gym questions
March 19, 2026 | WEST CENTRAL AREA, School Boards, Minnesota
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The School Board of Independent School District 2342 on the call of the meeting set a special meeting for March 24 to finalize a community survey for a bond referendum and discussed the scope of a possible facilities package that would preserve career and technical education (CTE) and some fitness space.
Superintendent Mr. Brown said the community task force met the previous night, produced a strong turnout and offered “good feedback,” and urged caution: “let’s make sure we do this project right,” he said, noting financial constraints but warning against stripping the plan to the point that it no longer reflects the community’s concept.
Board members and task-force participants discussed whether to present a roughly $33 million package or pare back to $29 million; task-force feedback, as reported to the board, favored some of the modifications teachers requested and expressed support for maintaining CTE and fitness elements rather than removing them entirely. The board discussed options such as soft-covered (fabric) structures to add flexible CTE space while acknowledging limitations for heavy trades work.
Staff outlined the planned survey timeline: the superintendent said staff would circulate the survey to employees around April 20 and mail packets to district residents around April 23–24, with instructions that one survey is intended per household but that staff and out-of-district families connected to the district may be permitted to complete a survey by contacting the district. The board set a special meeting for March 24 at 5:00 p.m. in the media center to approve wording and final survey questions.
The discussion also touched on related capital-outlay timing; staff will compile capital requests in April and present them for board review in May. No final bond amount or ballot language was adopted at the meeting; the special meeting will be used to approve the survey and finalize questions for the referendum process.
Superintendent Mr. Brown said the community task force met the previous night, produced a strong turnout and offered “good feedback,” and urged caution: “let’s make sure we do this project right,” he said, noting financial constraints but warning against stripping the plan to the point that it no longer reflects the community’s concept.
Board members and task-force participants discussed whether to present a roughly $33 million package or pare back to $29 million; task-force feedback, as reported to the board, favored some of the modifications teachers requested and expressed support for maintaining CTE and fitness elements rather than removing them entirely. The board discussed options such as soft-covered (fabric) structures to add flexible CTE space while acknowledging limitations for heavy trades work.
Staff outlined the planned survey timeline: the superintendent said staff would circulate the survey to employees around April 20 and mail packets to district residents around April 23–24, with instructions that one survey is intended per household but that staff and out-of-district families connected to the district may be permitted to complete a survey by contacting the district. The board set a special meeting for March 24 at 5:00 p.m. in the media center to approve wording and final survey questions.
The discussion also touched on related capital-outlay timing; staff will compile capital requests in April and present them for board review in May. No final bond amount or ballot language was adopted at the meeting; the special meeting will be used to approve the survey and finalize questions for the referendum process.
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