Faribault Public Schools Superintendent Todd Sesker stops by KDHL Thursday to talk about the district's request for a Building Bond Referendum.

Public information sessions have been held Monday and Wednesday of this week and another session is planned for Tuesday, October 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Faribault High School.

The Faribault Public School Board voted unanimously to support the Building Bond Referendum.

A Community Task Force on Facilities, comprised of a number of people from throughout Faribault studied the facilities of the district and made a recommendation to the School Board.

The Task Force reviewal included information about trends in education, public school funding, capacity and enrollment and safety and security among other things.

The Task Force recommended going to Faribault voters and requesting the funds necessary to complete projects to make all the schools safer.

Also included are creation of flexible learning spaces and additional activities/athletics space.

The price tag for all the projects is 87 million dollars.

According to information sent to residents of the Faribault Public School district in a newsletter projects include construction of:

  • A new Early Childhood and Kindergarten Center to house all Preschool and Kindergarten students.
  • Renovations of existing Kindergarten classrooms at each elementary school.
  • Additions/renovations for additional cafeteria and flexible learning space at the Middle School.
  • Additions/renovations at the High School to support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and other programming.
  • Replace the Area Learning Center (ALC) facility.
  • Construction of a new Event Center for Faribault.

The Event Center includes additional multi-purpose space, a multi-use walking track, multiple courts and would be made available to the public.

A city of Faribault 2040 Vision Plan identified a need for additional activity space.

Voting takes place Tuesday, November 7 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Absentee ballots are available beginning Friday at the Rice County Government Services Building in Faribault from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

There will be two ballot questions on the ballot.

Question one concerns an increase in the operating levy provides an increase in funding for additional space, programming needs and new facilities.

Question two deals with a building bond which provides funding to complete the facilities projects including renovations, additions and new facilities.

Question one must pass in order for the building bond referendum to pass.

AM Minnesota airs between 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and if you can't listen at that time the show is videotaped and available on our YouTube channel

It should be uploaded by mid-afternoon today.

Faribault Superintendent Todd Sesker. Photo by TSM
Faribault Superintendent Todd Sesker. Photo by TSM
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