Voters in the Saint Peter School District approved a bond referendum on Tuesday, authorizing the district to invest $10.965 million in renovations and maintenance for its 65-year-old middle school building. Unofficial vote tallies were 911 votes in favor of approval, and 656 against.
The approved funds will support a wide range of improvements, including classroom and restroom renovations, refurbished hallways and common areas, window repair and replacement, and a redesigned stairwell to improve traffic flow.
“We are grateful for our community’s support of our schools,” said Superintendent Bill Gronseth. “This investment will help ensure that the school is equipped to help students succeed for many more years to come.”
The planned investments will provide students with modernized learning spaces to better support interactive and project-based learning. The replacement of leaking windows and renovations to make spaces ADA-compliant will also improve the safety and accessibility of the building.
“This investment is going to make the building healthier and better suited for modern learning,” said Jon Graff, Principal of Saint Peter Middle School. “We’re thrilled about its potential to improve the experiences of our students and staff.”
Design planning for the proposed maintenance will begin at the end of this school year and is scheduled to be completed over the summers of 2025 and 2026 to avoid disrupting students. In conjunction with the project, the district will also replace the building’s failing boiler and HVAC systems, funding for which was approved by the school board earlier in the year.