The Plan

Tackling the biggest needs of our schools

Pequot Lakes Public Schools is proposing a two-question referendum on Tuesday, April 8 to invest in the long-term quality of our schools, classrooms, and infrastructure.

  • Question One asks voters to consider a $55 million bond referendum to complete significant improvements at all three schools.

  • Question Two asks voters to consider a 10-year capital projects levy ($600,000 per year) to help support annual costs for curriculum, textbooks and technology. Question Two is not contingent on Question One.

Question One - Bond Referendum

Question One asks voters to consider approving a $55 million investment to pay for career, technology, and trades education spaces, improved instructional spaces, safety and security enhancement, and general maintenance of our buildings. Together, these improvements aim to make sure our buildings continue to support high-quality education.

Safety and Security Enhancements - $9.5 million

  • New centrally located high school office with a secure entrance, improved building zoning, plus a science lab with appropriate square footage, ventilation, and safety features. ($5.5 million)

  • Traffic flow and parking lot improvements at pickup and dropoff loops, including additional parking off of Oak Street. ($4 million)

General Maintenance - $19 million

  • Roof replacements ($3 million)

  • Mechanical system upgrades and calibration to improve efficiency (HVAC) ($3.6 million)

  • Energy-efficient LED lighting and controls ($3 million)

  • Auditorium repairs, equipment and updates ($2 million)

  • Restroom and locker room updates ($1.1 million)

  • New boiler at Eagle View Elementary ($500,000)

  • Kitchen area updates ($500,000)

  • Eagle View Elementary playground equipment and accessibility updates ($350,000)

  • Various other deferred maintenance items on an as-needed basis ($5 million)

    • Sidewalk replacement

    • Fence replacement

    • Door repair/replacement

    • Rooftop exhaust fans

    • Condensing units

    • Electrical panels

    • Pumps

    • Carpeting

Expansion and Remodeling of Current Instructional Spaces - $10 million

  • A new multi-purpose space with restrooms in the middle school, which will support physical education and school events. ($5 million)

  • New Early Childhood spaces and third stairway at Eagle View Elementary, including a large motor space, two classrooms, and offices and storage space for staff. ($3.7 million)

  • Remodel of select art and technical education spaces at the middle/high school to create improved classrooms. ($1.3 million)

New space for career, technology and trades education - $16 million

  • Five new lab spaces at the middle/high school - one for metals, woods, robotics, graphic arts, and machining - to provide better resources for classes that teach students specialized skills for careers in the trades. ($14.5 million)

  • A new culinary lab and a remodel of the current lab space. This will alleviate overlap between high school and middle school culinary classes. ($1.5 million)

Examples: Early Childhood and Career, Technology, and Trades Educational Spaces

Rendering of the updated playground at Eagle View Elementary

Rendering of the updated playground at Eagle View Elementary

An example of what the new career and technical education labs could look like. NOTE: This image is an example from a different school that is similar to the space included in referendum Question One. It is for demonstrative purposes only and should

An example of what the new career and technical education labs could look like. NOTE: This image is an example from a different school that is similar to the space included in referendum Question One. It is for demonstrative purposes only and should not be considered an exact representation of the proposed space.

An example of what the new career and technical education labs could look like. NOTE: This image is an example from a different school that is similar to the space included in referendum Question One. It is for demonstrative purposes only and should

An example of what the new career and technical education labs could look like. NOTE: This image is an example from a different school that is similar to the space included in referendum Question One. It is for demonstrative purposes only and should not be considered an exact representation of the proposed space.

An example of what the new culinary arts lab could look like. NOTE: This image is an example from a different school that is similar to the space included in referendum Question One. It is for demonstrative purposes only and should not be considered

An example of what the new culinary arts lab could look like. NOTE: This image is an example from a different school that is similar to the space included in referendum Question One. It is for demonstrative purposes only and should not be considered an exact representation of the proposed space.

An example of what the new large motor space could look like in the early childhood wing. NOTE: This image is an example from a different school that is similar to the space included in referendum Question One. It is for demonstrative purposes only

An example of what the new large motor space could look like in the early childhood wing. NOTE: This image is an example from a different school that is similar to the space included in referendum Question One. It is for demonstrative purposes only and should not be considered an exact representation of the proposed space.

An example of what one of the two new classrooms could look like in the early childhood wing. NOTE: This image is an example from a different school that is similar to the space included in referendum Question One. It is for demonstrative purposes o

An example of what one of the two new classrooms could look like in the early childhood wing. NOTE: This image is an example from a different school that is similar to the space included in referendum Question One. It is for demonstrative purposes only and should not be considered an exact representation of the proposed space.

Question Two - Capital Projects Levy

Question Two asks voters to consider a 10-year capital projects levy to help support annual costs for curriculum, textbooks and technology. Question Two is not contingent on Question One.

If approved, the levy would provide approximately $600,000 each year to replace textbooks and other instructional materials that grow outdated and no longer align with the latest curriculum. Funding would also be used for the maintenance and replacement of learning technology and software used for student instruction as it ages.

The levy will account for approximately two-thirds of what our district currently pays annually for these needs. This currently comes from our district’s operating budget. This means that if voters approve the capital projects levy, there will be more flexibility within the operating budget to support other student needs and/or accommodate unforeseen expenses.

How does this plan differ from the 2023 plan?

Lower cost for taxpayers

The new plan will cost the average homeowner 36% less than the plan proposed in 2023, if both questions are approved.

Renovate, rather than build a new auditorium

Instead of building a brand new auditorium, the new plan calls for targeted investments in equipment and safety in the existing auditorium.

Maximize the value of existing learning spaces

The new plan aims to maximize and reconfigure the use of existing classroom space to address overcrowding, rather than build brand new classrooms.

Greater focus on improving essential learning spaces

The new plan does not call for new investments in athletics facilities like ball fields and the running track, instead focusing funds toward classrooms and maintenance in our buildings.

What happens if the referendum is rejected?

  • Our district will not be able to further enhance safety and security measures within our buildings.

  • Traffic safety improvements related to the drop-off loop and parking lots will be postponed for the foreseeable future.

  • Students and staff will continue to use overcrowded and/or inadequate learning spaces for career, technology, trades, and culinary classes.

  • Nearly $19 million worth of maintenance needs will be completed at a much slower pace and will be more expensive due to inflation.

  • Our district will have less flexibility and resources to fund textbooks, curriculum materials and technology each year.

Learn about the tax impact of the plan.