Rapid Enrollment Growth Results in Proposal to Expand Wayzata High School and Build a New Elementary School (9/10/13) – Wayzata, MN: In response to significant enrollment increases, a proposal to add onto Wayzata High School, build a new elementary school and upgrade security and technology was presented to the Wayzata School Board at its September 9 meeting. The proposal is based on three years of long-‐range planning, including work by a citizen facilities task force and the school district’s facilities committee, enrollment projections and research about the district’s population. The need to expand capacity at the high school, add an eighth elementary school and upgrade security and technology are being driven by: • More births and students moving into the district • More housing — 1,200 new homes have been built in the district over the past four years and at least another 1,600 new homes are expected to be built in the next four years • More students already in the schools — most district schools are already at capacity, including the high school, and incoming classes from the district’s three middle schools increase each year • Projections for Wayzata High School to grow by as many as 900 students in the next 10 years • The State’s recent decision to fund all-‐day Kindergarten that will create the need for 14-‐16 additional elementary classrooms “We originally identified $155 million in facilities needs but prioritized them down to $109.65 million that would require voter-‐approved funding,” explained Finance Director Jim Westrum. “Fortunately we are in an excellent position to consider issuing long-‐term debt due to our AAA bond rating, our low debt ratio compared to neighboring districts, the fact the high school debt will be paid off in 2017 and years of careful financial planning.” The School Board plans to take official action on the proposal at its October 14 meeting. If the Board directs staff to move forward, funding for the proposal would come from $109.65 million in new voter-‐ approved bonds and a renewed technology levy; both requests would be on a special election ballot in early 2014. “Realtors and families tell us that they move into our district for our quality schools,” said School Board Chair Sue Droegemueller. “We need to provide everyone with the educational experience our entire community expects and deserves.” More information about the District’s proposal to address growing enrollment – including enrollment charts and housing development information – is available at www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/growth. ###
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