'Rightsizing' underlies discussion of KMS Schools $27.9M bonding proposal

Oct. 28—KERKHOVEN

— A question that dates to the construction of the

Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg

High School in the early 1990s underlies the $27.95 million in bonding that district voters will decide Nov. 7.

What is the right size for this district that has seen its enrollment grow, thanks largely to open enrollment?

From an academic standpoint, there is a definite need for more space now, according to school board members and Superintendent Martin Heidelberger when they hosted a community meeting on Oct. 23 at the high school in Kerkhoven.

"We're making it work," Heidelberger said, explaining how everything from metal working and science classes to special education and counseling services are managing with space constraints. "Educationally, we could use a little more space," he said.

Voters will decide two questions. Question one asks for $17.15 million and aims to mainly address academic needs. It would fund a new Career and Technical Education addition, add elementary school classrooms, improve the theater area and high school media center, build a new 120-stall parking lot at the elementary school, renovate restrooms and reconfigure offices and locker rooms.

Question two, which is contingent on approval of the first question, asks for $10.8 million and focuses on activities and athletics. It would construct two additions for performing arts at the high school, build a new stadium and football field with artificial turf and track, rebuild the softball fields, and build a new 170-stall parking lot at the high school along with other improvements.

The district has seen its enrollment increase from 530 students — when it faced constant financial challenges — to around 830 students today. The district's enrollment is projected to remain steady — and possibly grow slightly — in the years ahead, according to Chris Ziemer, project development manager with

ICS

of Minneapolis.

"It's something we don't want to forget," school board member Chris Wenisch said of the school's financial struggles when enrollment had bottomed out.

Open enrollment — which allows student enrollment from one Minnesota school district into another — is responsible for the district's enrollment growth. More than 30% of its students are open-enrolled from outside the district, according to the superintendent.

Half of the open-enrolled students have family ties to the district. Their parents or grandparents attended KMS or the Murdock or Sunburg schools, said Heidelberger. The remainder are generally from families who have been referred to KMS by parents with current or past ties to the district, he added.

Heidelberger said KMS has benefited from a trend demographers are seeing in some areas: Rural graduates are moving back from urban areas so that their children can enjoy the small school educations they knew.

KMS also benefits by its proximity to Willmar, similar to how smaller districts outside of regional centers such as Duluth and Rochester have seen enrollment boosts from open enrollment, the superintendent added.

School board members hope to see slow but steady growth, possibly to the range of 900 to 950 students, according to KMS School Board member Harmon Wilts.

The improvements being sought will provide the space and flexibility needed today and if the expected growth occurs.

"We need to make sure we are providing the space for our teachers to provide a good product for our customers, which are the students and our parents," said Wilts.

He pointed out that the district has been discussing how to rightsize itself from the time when it built the current high school.

In response to a question at the meeting, Wilts said previous school boards had looked at the possibility of building a one-campus system, but decided against it. Parents appreciate having an elementary school separate from the high school.

Board members also believe there are academic advantages to a K-6 school in comparison to a K-12 school, he said.

The state's Ag2School program would fund 55% of the bond costs, according to Ryan Fetters, school bond consultant with

Baker Tilly

of Minneapolis.

The state's

Ag2School tax credit

reduces the tax burden on agricultural lands by way of a state reimbursement to the district.

If approved, the debt for the 20-year bonds would be structured to maintain an annual levy in the range of $3 million, as compared to the nearly $1 million the district now handles.

Board members and the superintendent said the school will maintain the athletic cooperative with the Benson School District if voters approve building a track.

Information on the project and its tax impact along with a calculator for individual parcels is available on the district's

website at kms.k12.mn.us.