THE PLAN

A new PreK-12 school and wellness center

 

On Feb. 8, residents in the Nashwauk-Keewatin School District approved two ballot questions that will build a new PreK-12 school building and adjacent wellness center.

 

Question 1

Question 1 sought approximately $42 million to build a new PreK-12 school. The school will be located on 42 acres of land donated to the district by U.S. Steel Corporation on Highway 169, immediately west of the O’Brien Reservoir.

 

Question 2

In Question 2, voters approved a wellness center with a walking track, fitness facility, and general purpose space for events and education that will be connected to the new school.

 

The Impact of a New School on Student Education

The new school will be designed to fully meet state recommendations for health, safety, size, and educational adequacy.

The elementary students will be separated from the high school by a central gymnasium and cafeteria, but the combined school model will also give more students earlier access to advanced courses and hands-on learning spaces that can be shared by all students.

 
 

The new PreK-12 school will include:

  • Modern, right-sized classrooms

  • Dedicated special education rooms

  • Specialist spaces for art, band, and music

  • Small group work areas

  • Properly equipped science labs

  • Media center/learning commons to accommodate technology access for all students

  • Two full-sized gymnasiums

  • Kitchen and cafeteria

  • Career and Technical Education workspace

  • Private offices for school nurse and counselors

 

  • More classroom time for elementary students.

    Combining the elementary and high school into a single building will result in more time in the classroom for the youngest students - K-3. Students will get 25 more minutes per day in class, and 4-6 grades will get 15 more minutes per day than they do now because they will no longer have to end their day early to be bussed to Nashwauk to catch the afternoon busses.

  • Proper spaces for science, technology, and band.

    The new school will feature a dedicated space for band and music, so N-K students would no longer have to practice music in a repurposed swimming pool. The new building will include modern science and technology labs with enough space for students to use the equipment and work on projects.

  • Improved Career and Technical Education (CTE) space.

    Collaborative CTE spaces in the new school will support N-K’s strong Industrial Arts program with more hands-on learning opportunities for students. In addition, the new CTE space for these programs supports wider student access to trade experiences through N-K’s partnership with the Itasca Area Schools Collaborative and other neighboring schools.

  • ADA compliance.

    The new school will be fully accessible for students and community members regardless of physical limitations.

  • Better spaces for student support services.

    Special education students will have dedicated space designed to support their needs. In addition, the new building will provide private offices for the school nurse, mental health counselor, and other support services, including assistance for students experiencing homelessness.

Question 1 Space Programming

Question 1 Space Programming

Question 1 Space Programming

Question 1 Space Programming

Why do these projects require voter approval?

Even though school districts have annual maintenance budgets and the school board can levy for smaller facility improvements, state law requires voter approval of certain types of major capital projects that require bonds to finance them.

Since voters approved both ballot questions, funding will come from the sale of general obligation bonds. To help pay off the bonds necessary to finance a plan of this size, an increase in the local property tax levy will be needed, which voters have approved.

LEARN ABOUT THE COST OF THE PROJECT

The image above is for illustration purposes only. Detailed designs will be developed with community input.