June 2023

At the Special Meeting on June 27, 2023, the School Board voted unanimously to approve the Resolution Relating to Determining the Necessity of Approving a Capital Project Levy Authorization and Issuing General Obligation Bonds and Calling a Special Election.  The Review and Comment portion of the plan will be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education for their review.  Other details on the plan are included in the documents below.

Special Election Resolution 11.07.23

Review and Comment

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At the Special Meeting on June 5, 2023, the School Board received the Facilities Bond Recommendation from Superintendent Kurt Stumpf, which also included financial information from PMA and draft ballot language.  

Facilities Bond Recommendation

Facilities Bond Financial Information

Facilities Bond Draft Election Resolution

The school board voted unanimously to direct the Superintendent to formulate a recommendation for a date, scope, amount, financing, and ballot language for a facilities bond election at the regular school board meeting on Monday, May 15, 2023.

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At the board work session on May 1, 2023, the School Board received a report on a Capital Projects Levy option, prepared by Superintendent Kurt Stumpf, and updated financial information prepared by Michael Hart, PMA Director, Public Finance.  

Capital Projects Levy Report

Finance Building Projects Update 4-25-23 PMA

At the regular board meeting on April 17, 2023, the School Board received updated cost estimates for the proposed facility improvements and updated financial information.  The cost estimates were prepared by ATSR, the architectural and engineering firm hired by the district.  The financial information was prepared by PMA, the District's financial advisors.    

Budget Estimates 4-17-2023 ATSR

Finance Building Projects Update 4-17-23 PMA

On March 14, 2023 the Pequot Lakes School Board received an update at the board meeting regarding the Facilities Planning Team recommendations.  Additional follow-up information was requested from school board members on various aspects of the facilities plan.  The school board meeting involved discussion only and no formal school board actions were taken.  The Pequot Lakes School Board has not determined the scope, if any, of a facilities project.  

Facilities Presentation

Budget Information

 

Review of Facilities Planning Process

The Pequot Lakes School District is developing a comprehensive facilities plan to meet the needs of students now and in the future.  The district is partnering with ATSR, an architectural and engineering firm, to lead the planning.  The following are some of the comprehensive facilities study milestones:

• A 10-year enrollment projection report was given to the Board and Facilities Planning Team in October.  This information was utilized in preparing a long-range facility plan.

• Over 60 students, staff, parents and community members participated in a Facilities Planning Team.  During this 5-night series, Facilities Planning Team members toured district facilities, reviewed the facility maintenance needs and the enrollment study as well as worked on prioritizing  a list of potential facility improvements from students and staff.  A final recommendation and report will be presented to the Board in January 2023.

January 4, 2023 School Board Meeting

Linked is the Facilities Planning Team Recommendation that was presented to the School Board on January 4, 2023 by a Pequot Lakes High School and Middle School student.  

January 23, 2023 School Board Meeting

At the Regular School Board Meeting on January 23, 2023, Michael Hart from PMA Securities presented financial information.  PMA Securities is the District's financial advisor.  The presentation included a review of the current tax base, outstanding bond debt and options and information for facility upgrades.

Financial Presentation to School Board - January 23, 2023

Below are some pictures from the Facilities Planning Team meetings.

The District announced the formation of the District Facilities Planning Team.  Check out the announcement below:  

As you may already know, the Pequot Lakes School District is developing a comprehensive facilities plan to meet the needs of students now and in the future.  The district is partnering with ATSR, an architectural and engineering firm, to lead the planning. The next step in the process is inviting students, staff and community members to a Facilities Planning Team (FPT).    

We are reaching out today to invite you to participate in this important project as a Facilities Planning Team member.

As we embark on this long-range facilities planning process, we want to ensure various perspectives inform a comprehensive plan. The FPT members will be responsible for recommending district-wide priorities and baseline needs for our facilities.  These recommendations will then be presented to the School Board in the Winter of 2022.  

The time commitment is participation in a series of six workshops from September to November. The FPT workshops are scheduled from 6 pm - 8 pm as follows:  September 19, September 26, October 10, October 24, November 7, and November 21.  Snacks and water will be served at these meetings.  If this opportunity is of interest to you, please complete the Google form by September 12.  There is more information available regarding facilities planning on the school district website.  Please email Superintendent Kurt Stumpf (kstumpf@isd186.org) with any questions.

In early June, ATSR officials met with staff groups, including principals, teachers, custodians, maintenance and other people representing the following groups:  Early Childhood, Community Education, Elementary, Middle School, High School, Teaching & Learning and Activities & Athletics.   

On May 20, ATSR hosted a kick-off planning meeting with the District Administration to begin the facilities planning process.  On May 25, ATSR officials and District Administration met with roughly 45 students in grades 3rd through 11th to share feedback on current facilities.  The groups of students were asked three basic questions:  1) What facility and instructional design aspects of your school are not currently working?;  (2)  What facility and instructional design aspects of your school are working well?; and  (3)  If you could make any facility alteration or addition, what would you do?

An electronic staff survey was also sent to all district staff at the end of May asking the same three questions.  Over 110 staff completed the online survey.

Six firms officially submitted a proposal for an educational facility assessment and long-range planning for the Pequot Lakes School District.  Three firms were interviewed by a district committee of nine people, including students, staff and community members, and a school board member in March.  After the interview, reference checks and contract negotiations, the school district partnered with ATSR, an architectural and engineering firm.

The Pequot Lakes School District published a Request for Proposals (see Quicklinks documents) for facility planning.  There are two main components of the facilities planning: (1) Facilities Assessment; and (2) Long-Range Facility Plan.  The facility assessment includes items such as roofing, HVAC units, interior finishes, ADA compliance and indoor air quality.  The Long-Range Facility Plan includes stakeholder feedback and input, demographic projections, and analysis of current facility utilization.