H-BC moves ahead with $30 million bond for new school

The Minnesota Department of Education issued a favorable review and comment to the Hills-Beaver Creek School District to proceed with a $29.975 million bond referendum.
As a result of the favorable review, the district must receive a simple majority of positive votes on both questions in order for the bond referendum to pass.
The vote takes place Tuesday, April 11.
District officials are asking residents two questions:
•The first ballot question authorizes $26.5 million for the construction of a new 57,416-square-foot elementary school, demolition of the existing elementary school in Beaver Creek, and completion of improvements at the secondary school in Hills. No location for the new elementary school is specified in the information to the state. However, district officials are negotiating on additional property for the new elementary school in Beaver Creek. After several closed sessions, no purchase agreement has been reached on a 10- to 12-acre site.
•The second question authorizes $3.475 million to upgrade the Hugo Goehle gymnasium located on the former high school site in Hills, demolition of the remaining portion of the old high school, and updating the current bus garage facility and parking lot at the current secondary school, both in Hills.
Construction will take place in 2024 and 2025.
 
Proposal anticipates decline in student enrollment
The review by the state indicates a decline in student enrollment of 8 to 13 percent annually, beginning with the 2025-26 school year.
“If enrollment declines continue into the future and class sizes drop significantly below the status quo of slightly more than 20 students per grade, the district will likely face operational cost deficits prior to the competition of the debt service payments on the proposed bond issue which expires in 2046.
The district expects to reduce some of its operational costs through the construction of a new, more energy-efficient elementary school. 
The enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year at H-BC for kindergarten through 12th grade is 344 students.
 
Upcoming referendum sessions planned
School officials plan two information sessions to inform voters on the two referendum questions and the projects included in the bond.
The first session takes place at the existing elementary school in Beaver Creek beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 23.
The second session is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at the Hugo-Goehle gymnasium in Hills. 
Representatives from the school district, project architects, construction managers and the district’s financial advisers will be available to answer questions.
At both information sessions, the public is invited to tour the facilities and the projects included in the long-term building maintenance improvement plan.
An information brochure was recently mailed to district residents explaining the projects involved in the bond referendum and where and how residents can vote. A copy is available online at www.hbcpatriots.com under the “2023 Referendum” tab. An impact calculator is also available for residents to gauge how the referendum may affect various property classifications.