Board Narrows Expansion Wish List: Growing District Weighs Options for April Referendum

By Kevin Harter, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.

Jan. 5–SOMERSET SCHOOLS — After decades of steady growth, the Somerset School District is again looking at its school options.

An April referendum is planned, but first district officials must determine what to ask for.

That decision is expected this month.

After gathering information and community input, the two leading options — expanding the elementary school and building a new high school — were announced last month.

The Board of Education’s facilities committee will meet at 6 p.m. Monday to discuss those options. The meeting will be at the district offices, 645 Sunrise Drive, and is open to the public.

“They have narrowed down the options and will discuss details, including costs, at the meeting,” Superintendent Randy Rosburg said.

The committee is expected to meet again Jan 14, and the full board expects to make its decision Jan. 21. The deadline for getting the measure on the April ballot is Feb. 16.

The district has about 1,580 students and has been growing by about 3 percent each year for 20 years.

Recent bonding requests to voters have brought mixed results. Last April, Somerset School District voters approved a $1.5 million bond to buy land but rejected a request for a $2.96 million bond to pay for six new classrooms at the elementary and high schools.

Voters had previously rejected two requests to buy land.

Kevin Harter can be reached at kharter@pioneerpress.com or 800-950-9080, ext. 2149.

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