West Central Area Schools and Minnewaska Area School District voters approve both questions on their ballot from Tuesday night’s election. Minnewaska has two levy’s that passed – Officials say the funds raised through the increase will go toward classroom technology including resource subscriptions, phone and security systems and student devices.
Question one asked to renew the current levy set in 2014, will raise around $350,000 per year for the school’s tech programs. It passed on a vote of 1,008 to 293. If this passed, then so could the second question. Question two sought to increase the levy to around $500,000 per year for the next 10 years. The levy increase was passed on a vote of 905 to 399.
The West Central Area School District saw their operating levy and capital project levy both passing on Election Day. According to district officials, question one dealing with an operating levy with an increase for inflation passed on a vote of 577 to 301. Question two dealing with a capital project levy passed on a vote of 533 to 343.
Two Osakis School Referendums that were voted on Tuesday night, November 7th, did not pass. Nearly 59% voted no for building bonds of $29.9 million to acquire betterment of school sites, facilities renovations, upgrades and expansions for classrooms, a gym expansion, and parking lot improvements.
The second was nearly a 66% no against approval of a $5.5 million bond to improve wrestling space and track and field complexes.
“With the goals of Improving Safety, Expanding our Career and Technical Curriculum, Retaining Efficient Curriculum Spaces, and Increasing the Use of our Community Spaces; the Osakis School Board approved a Special Election to occur on November 7, 2023 and consider two Ballot Questions – Ballot Question 1 – $29,900,000 and Ballot Question 2 – $5,500,000. This page holds all information explaining the reasons for this Special Election and the impact this decision will have on the future of our School and Community.”
Here are the results:
| Party | Candidate | Totals | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| YES | 528 | 41.28% | |
| NO | 751 | 58.72% |
| SCHOOL DISTRICT QUESTION 1 (ISD #213) Approval of School District Bond Issue Shall the school board of Independent School District No. 213 (Osakis Public Schools) be authorized to issue its general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $29,900,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the construction of secure entrances, renovations and upgrades to the career and technical education classrooms and lab; the construction and equipping of a new auditorium, band room, two-court event gymnasium and walking track; the decommissioning of the existing auditorium and gymnasium; and the construction of parking lot expansions and improvements? |
| Party | Candidate | Totals | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| YES | 434 | 34.09% | |
| NO | 839 | 65.91% |
| SCHOOL DISTRICT QUESTION 2 (ISD #213) Approval of School District Bond Issue If School District Question 1 is approved, shall the school board of Independent School District No. 213 (Osakis Public Schools) also be authorized to issue its general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $5,500,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the construction and equipping of a building addition to provide a multipurpose room/wrestling space; and the construction of improvements to relocate and expand the track and field complex? |