Voters In Edina, Shakopee Approve Million Dollar Changes To School Districts
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Some big changes are on the way for Edina Public Schools after voters approved plans for district wide improvements.
Voters in Edina passed a nearly $125 million bonding measure to upgrade schools Tuesday evening.
The one-question special election referendum passed 57 percent to 43 percent, with about 6,600 people voting. The bond is over the span of 21 years.
District officials said the $125 million referendum will help improve learning for all students, but it will cost taxpayers a little more.
Under this project, the owner of a $400,000 Edina home would see an annual tax increase of $299 a year. That comes out to be about $25 per month, according to preliminary cost estimates.
The plan calls for what's referred to as "Next Generation Learning Spaces."
Students will have new areas where they can work together in groups or one-on-one with teachers. This will be at all the district's facilities.
Edina High School students will also see some new additions and new faces.
The Star Tribune reports the project includes adding 135,000 square feet at the high school, moving ninth-graders from the middle school to the high school. Also, students can expect upgraded and new playground and athletic fields.
The plan calls for building a new, more secure Transportation Services Facility to meet current and future needs of the district's fleet of school buses. The district will sell the current building to pay for the new facility.
School security systems will also be upgraded, including cameras, communications systems in the event of an emergency and school lockdown measures.
Construction on these projects is expected to start in 2016.
Voters in Shakopee also passed a bonding referendum Tuesday for $102 million.
The district plans to make a number of improvements, most notably adding on to the high school.
With that addition, Shakopee would shift 9th graders to the high school, and 6th graders up to middle schools.
The second question voters approved is a technology levy.
This is $2.5 million per year for ten years to increase access to technology in the classroom.
