South Washington County voters reject school referendum

South Washington County voters rejected a bonding referendum for a $462 million, 10-year amenities plan—the most expensive colleges referendum in state historical past.

Outcomes had been in from 93 % of precincts by about 10 p.m. Sixty-six % of voters solid “no” ballots on the referendum; 34 % voted to approve the referendum.

The rejection of the referendum got here as a victory to those that hoped to avoid wasting Newport Elementary College, the district’s most numerous elementary college. Below the proposed plan, Newport Elementary would have closed as quickly as 2025. However despite the fact that the referendum failed, South Washington County Faculties officers say that closing Newport Elementary College stays a chance.

“At the moment, there’s uncertainty about the way forward for Newport Elementary College within the occasion of an unsuccessful bond election,” the district’s web site learn forward of the election. “Administration might want to consider all choices for the 2023-24 college 12 months.”

The plan would have resulted within the development of two new elementary colleges, the growth of three excessive colleges, and renovations to colleges all through the district. Below the district’s plan, Newport Elementary would have change into an early studying middle. 

District officers proposed the plan to accommodate rising enrollment and overcrowding.

At Woodbury Excessive College, some college students eat lunch on the cafeteria flooring. At Pine Hill Elementary College in Cottage Grove, one set of bogs serves your entire college, and workers have turned a storage closet right into a makeshift occupational remedy house. At East Ridge Excessive College in Woodbury, hallways are tough to navigate throughout passing time, for the reason that college is over capability by a number of hundred college students. 

However mother and father at Newport Elementary informed Sahan Journal they didn’t perceive why these issues ought to outcome within the closure of the varsity that has served their kids nicely. Greater than half the scholars are kids of shade, and 22 % are English language learners.

“As a result of the varsity measurement is small, the children get all that spotlight from the instructor,” Hoyam Elkhedir, a mom of six who lives in Woodbury, informed Sahan Journal in April. “We really feel snug, secure, and we belong.” 

Charissa Vasquez, a mother concerned within the Newport parent-teacher group, informed Sahan Journal her three youngsters had been thriving at Newport Elementary. They confronted bullying from lecturers and college students in different colleges they’d attended as a result of Spanish is their first language, Vasquez stated. However since coming to Newport, she’d seen a formidable change in all of her kids.

“If we don’t combat for our youngsters’ future, who’s gonna do it?” she stated.

The referendum’s failure means district officers are more likely to return to voters with a revised amenities plan in February 2023.