BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS ISD #777

Exceptional Opportunities for Every Student's Success

By Dennis Laumeyer, Superintendent

Aug. 14 marks a defining day for Benson Public Schools. After months of planning and preparation, Benson area residents will vote on a referendum plan to equip our community with collaborative learning environments and sought-out activity spaces that engage and elevate our students and our community.

We have a lot to be proud of here in Benson through the enhanced opportunities we provide students to prepare them to learn, earn college credits and gain lifelong skills through a variety of electives and extracurricular activities.

Here are answers to a few key questions as you prepare to vote on Aug. 14:

• What is the state tax credit on this project? The Minnesota Legislature approved a permanent Ag2School 40 percent tax credit that went into effect in 2017. It gives agriculture land owners and private timber land owners significant tax relief on school bonds and has tripled the state share. When applying it in Benson, this group of local landowners will pay 42 percent of this levy and the state of Minnesota now will pay 28 percent of their portion. That means the state will contribute $11 million to the project, including interest.
  
  
• How do our taxes compare to others?
  Benson Schools ranks lowest in total taxes compared to neighboring districts and this proposed project still will keep the school district tax bill below average.
  
  
• What about interest?
  Like with mortgages and other loans, this project also will have interest. The current rate of about 4 percent is very low. Waiting likely would increases costs. The average impact on a local taxpayer is $6.92 a month, including interest.
  
  
• Where did this plan come from?
  Benson Public Schools called for volunteers last year to assist with evaluating the district’s educational needs and creating an action plan. It led to the development of a 45-member task force representing farmers, business leaders, parents, staff and community members who worked meticulously to develop a plan that is the vision for our school and community.
  
  
• How is the district’s enrollment?
  Benson Public Schools has seen growth in a series of areas, primarily among our community’s youngest learners. Last year’s kindergarten class represented the largest group in our elementary school and Benson Schools now serves 87 percent of the local 4-year-olds in our preschool program to prepare them for school and future success. This plan focuses on right sizing our spaces.The plan adds 55,000 square feet, updates 23,000 square feet, and removes 112,000 square feet.
  
  
• Who gets to bid on the project?
  The construction-related bids would be released in small amounts so local contractors have an opportunity to bid on the project.

Attend Aug. 7 Meeting
Learn more about the project and ask questions at an upcoming meeting on Aug. 7. The meeting will provide an overview of the project with a focus on collaborative learning spaces and security plans. It also will include a review and comment portion. The meeting will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. at Benson High School Cafeteria.

Get updates and learn more today by following the district on Facebook or viewing referendum news.

• A nearly 15,000-square-foot Early Childhood Addition that will accommodate district's child care and preschool programs
• 40-unit parking lot with convenient drop-off for early childhood
• A new 3,000-square-foot multi-use space that will serve as a cafeteria, activity space and collaborative learning environment
• Remodeled kitchen
• More secure entry

Under this plan, the district would add about 18,000 square feet at Northside Elementary, as shown in dark red below, and remodel a total of 1,600 square feet, as highlighted in light red:

Dave Nagler - Landowner
Jesse Hughes - Business Owner and Landowner
Jim Hilleren - Landowner
Tim Nagler - Landowner
Eric Peterson - Business Leader
Dennis Laumeyer - School Superintendent

The 2018 bond referendum for Benson Public Schools includes building a new auditorium that would seat about 600 people in comfortable theater-style environment. Just one component of the plan, this auditorium seeks to:

·      Bring our community together.
We see this as a beautiful space that would bring our community together and become a place that draws others to Benson for exciting and anticipated theatrical, musical and dance performances that they can experience. As a community space, we would welcome churches and other community groups to use it.

·       Enhance production experiences.
We could serve more students through our programs and expand experiences in lighting, sound, set design and other aspects of a production.

·       Host professional performances.
We imagine hosting professional artists to show students where their dreams could take them and provide meaningful entertainment for our community.

Similar auditoriums have been built across Greater Minnesota, including this one in Dassel, Minnesota.

By Superintendent Dennis Laumeyer

When I first came to Benson, the school district’s history of providing a large number of quality enrichment activities caught my attention. Over the years, I have seen a growing number of students participate in a variety of activities. In a year, we’ve had more than 350 students in choir and band, over 75 in theater, and over 200 dancers.

So, I understood the disappointment in May 2017 when the district had to close the 1928 auditorium after the ceiling collapsed. In the past year, it has meant limiting access and learning opportunities for students.

The broader community felt it, too, as the district moved concerts, theater productions and dance programs to the gymnasium. We have not had enough room for everyone and the seating has been inadequate, especially those who have accessibility limitations and our elderly residents.

The Aug. 14 bond referendum seeks to change that. A new auditorium that would seat 600 people in comfortable theater-style environment and have full accessibility for all is among the key components of the upcoming bond referendum.

Meeting Key Needs
The $26-million plan developed by the 45-member Community Task Force aims to meet key needs of the community with a minimal tax impact, including:

• Create new dedicated auditorium space and add music room at high school
• Create child care and early learning center at Northside Elementary School
• Add Northside cafeteria, which also provides needed activity and community space
• Remove 90-year-old auditorium
• Remove 90 and 68 year old junior high buildings
• Create a PreK- grade 5 dedicated learning center at Northside
• Develop a 6-12th grade secondary school
• Develop collaborative learning environments to engage junior and high school students
• Repurpose pool to activity space
• Upgrade secure entries at elementary and high schools

This will mark the school district’s first major remodel since 1994.

Efficient Use
Overall, this project promotes the efficient use of the district's current facilities and update spaces to meet the changing needs of education. This project will add about 55,000 square feet, remove 112,000 square feet and update more than 21,000 square feet.

Attend Meetings & Tours

We will continue to share more details on the plan in the coming weeks. Join us at Northside Elementary for the next informational meeting and tour from 6-7:30 pm on July 18. The meeting will focus on plans for child care and early learning through elementary, new cafeteria/activity space and safety upgrades.

Learn more today and receive updates by following Benson Public Schools on Facebook and Twitter.