FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 25, 2014
Wayzata School District Voters Approve Two School Funding Questions – Building Bond Request and Tech Levy Renewal
Wayzata School District voters overwhelmingly approved two requests for increased funding to address growing enrollment that were on a February 25 ballot: • Building bond, approved 78% yes (3,818 votes) to 22% no (1,107 votes): $109.645 million in bond funding to expand Wayzata High School, build a new elementary school and upgrade safety, security and technology infrastructure districtwide. • Technology levy, approved 80% yes (3,922 votes) to 20% no (988 votes): Renewed existing technology levy, which funds technology equipment and support districtwide with approximately $2.7 million annually for 10 years. “We are incredibly grateful to voters for these results. Approval of these two funding requests represents a tremendous vote of confidence and gift of support from our community to our students, staff and families,” said Superintendent Chace Anderson. “We will continue to provide Wayzata School District families with the quality education they expect, and in turn do our part to maintain the excellent community we are all proud to call our home.” With more than 1,600 new housing developments anticipated within the school district in the next four years and most schools already at capacity, the demand to attend Wayzata Public Schools has never been greater. The district's K-‐12 resident student enrollment is anticipated to increase twice as fast in the next 10 years as it has in the past decade, with up to 900 more students projected at Wayzata High School alone. In addition, the state recently funded all-‐day Kindergarten, creating the need for 14-‐16 additional elementary classrooms. Faced with this enrollment growth, last year school district leaders and community members developed a comprehensive plan in that resulted in these two funding requests on the February 25 ballot. Next steps for use of the building funds include: • The Facilities Committee of the Board and district administration will meet in the next few weeks to further develop the design/construction process and reconfirm timelines for the high school addition, eighth elementary school, and safety, security and technology infrastructure improvements.
Excellence. For each and every student.
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Safety and security improvements will begin during the summer of 2014. Design of the high school addition and improvements will proceed during spring and summer 2014; construction will likely start late fall 2014 and continue for nearly two years. Elementary school design will start after a site is purchased; construction is expected to begin by the summer of 2015. The high school addition and new elementary school are scheduled to be open in fall 2016.
• Renewing the technology levy provides funding stability to provide students and staff with technology equipment and support for learning that will allow students to create, collaborate, and develop skills to thrive today and excel tomorrow in an ever-‐changing global society. The renewed levy will be in place through 2026. Updates on the construction planning and process will be shared with the community – through the school district’s Communicator newsletter, school and district emails, local media and the district website, www.wayzata.k12.mn.us. Questions can be directed to the Construction Hotline at 763-‐745-‐5050 or by emailing construction@wayzata.k12.mn.us. Wayzata Public Schools serves all or part of Corcoran, Maple Grove, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka, Orono, Plymouth and Wayzata. The district serves nearly 11,000 students in seven (soon to be eight) elementary schools (K-‐ 5), three middle schools (6-‐8), and one high school (9-‐12). The community education department serves the learning needs of residents of all ages through a variety of programs and offerings.
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Excellence. For each and every student.