Willmar School District voters are to be commended for their forward-thinking investment this week in approving a $53.25 million bond for a wide-ranging project of new construction, remodeling and deferred maintenance updates.
Question 1 was approved Tuesday by a vote of 2,661 in favor and 2,297 against.
Question 2, a $7.75 million field house at the high school, unfortunately failed by a vote of 2,227 in favor and 2,707 against.
This is a major step for the Willmar School District toward alleviating current elementary overcrowding, providing some badly needed remodeling and addressing significant deferred maintenance issues across the district.
The major piece of the referendum question is a new $27 million elementary school, likely to be built in southeast Willmar. This will address significant overcrowding in the Kennedy and Roosevelt elementary buildings.
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This project also includes:
A $1.6 million project for remodeling academic areas in school buildings.
A $3.8 million eight-classroom science addition to the Willmar Middle School.
A $8 million gymnasium and physical education addition to the Willmar Senior High School.
The only disappointment was the failure of the fieldhouse, which would have provided more needed practice space as well as created tournament or event space for the district and the community. This would still be a good addition to our district and community assets and is worth reconsideration.
It will be up to the district and supporters moving forward to reformulate the fieldhouse proposal, make a better case for its strategic need and value, and provide a better case for the concept.
What is most significant in Tuesday’s vote is the willingness of the majority of district voters’ willingness to invest in the future of Willmar and its children. The voters made a great decision on the major question of the referendum. For that, they deserve our thanks.
Kudos to the WIllmar School Board, its administration and staff for studying and developing a detailed and appropriate plan to meet the current and future needs of the district. They delivered the necessary information to the voters to assist in their decision-making.
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Our compliments as well to the groups and individuals supporting the bond issue, such as Education Matters, the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and many individuals. They all worked hard for this critical investment in moving the district toward a better future.
Thank you also to all the students who spoke up for this important investment in the future of the Willmar School District.
As noted this week on the school district’s website, “Together, we are all preparing all students for a successful tomorrow.”
