[0:01] Hello. Thank you for taking the time to [0:04] seek factual information about our [0:06] important special election on November [0:09] 4th, 2025. [0:11] Before we begin, a quick reminder. [0:14] Minnesota law prohibits schools from [0:16] advocating for or against ballot [0:18] questions. This presentation is [0:21] strictlyformational. [0:23] We will not tell you how to vote. We [0:25] simply want you to have the facts so you [0:28] can make the decision that's right for [0:30] your family. At the end of the [0:32] presentation, we will share an email [0:34] address that you can use to submit [0:36] questions. [0:38] So, why are we here? Why is STMA asking [0:41] voters to spend their hard-earned [0:43] dollars on our children? First, we are [0:46] one of the lowest funded districts in [0:48] Minnesota. In fact, we are ranked 323 [0:53] out of 328 in per student revenue in the [0:57] state of Minnesota. [0:59] STMA receives $4,000 less per student [1:03] than the state average. Think of that. [1:06] Multiply 4,000 by your student [1:09] enrollment of approximately 7,000 [1:11] students and that is close to $28 [1:14] million annually. [1:16] State funding is not enough to cover the [1:19] basics needs of our students. Minnesota [1:22] school districts receive 19% less per [1:26] student than they did in 2005, which [1:29] equates to $1,420 [1:32] less per student. 72% of Minnesota [1:36] school districts have a voter approved [1:38] operating levy to fund teachers and [1:40] staff in classrooms. STMA does not have [1:44] an operating levy. To balance the [1:47] budget, we've already reduced $7.3 [1:50] million and eliminated 77 staff [1:54] positions. Plus, we've dipped into our [1:57] fund balance, which is like our savings [1:59] account. Despite these measures, the [2:02] district's financial situation continues [2:05] to be unstable. So, what has changed? We [2:09] listened. Thank you to all who engaged [2:12] with us, students, families, staff, and [2:15] community members. Each year, we host 24 [2:19] student forums, two family listening [2:21] sessions, eight staff listening [2:23] sessions, and one community listening [2:26] session. Plus, we have 20 community [2:29] advisory teams that focus on various [2:32] topics, including facilities, finance, [2:35] policy, and more. The input we receive [2:40] shaped a clear, conservative plan that [2:42] asked for just enough to maintain class [2:45] sizes in programming and meet critical [2:47] facility needs, all while minimizing the [2:50] tax impact. What is different this time? [2:54] In 2021 and 2022, we asked voters for [2:58] enough revenue to restore CLA staff [3:01] positions. The community said no and the [3:04] message we heard was that the tax impact [3:07] was too high. This time we are spending [3:10] down our fund balance and asking for [3:13] less, just enough to maintain what we [3:15] have. We will not be adding teachers or [3:18] programs. We are asking for just enough [3:21] to maintain. And this is very important. [3:25] As we heard loud and clear from the [3:27] community, this plan keeps school taxes [3:30] stable for the next 10 years. [3:33] What will be on the ballot? There will [3:36] be two questions. Question one is an [3:38] operating levy and focuses on learning. [3:41] Levies are for learning. Our plan [3:44] includes a two-phase approach designed [3:47] to keep school taxes stable for 10 [3:49] years. In phase one, we are asking for [3:52] $275 [3:54] per student for the first two years, [3:57] then $835 [3:59] per student for the next eight years. [4:02] This funding maintains class sizes while [4:04] stabilizing the tax impact. Question two [4:08] is a bond referendum and focuses on [4:10] buildings. Bonds are for buildings. We [4:13] are seeking $21 million to improve [4:17] safety and security, technology, [4:19] maintenance, and academic spaces. We [4:22] will review the specific projects later [4:25] in the presentation, but to be clear, [4:27] these are not frivolous projects. The [4:30] reason we have two questions on the [4:32] ballot is that for an operating levy, we [4:35] receive zero state aid. With a bond, the [4:39] state pays for approximately 60% for the [4:42] first few years. So to save taxpayers [4:45] money, we put as many needs as we could [4:48] into the bond. Note, question two can [4:51] only pass if question one is approved. [4:54] Here is how it all works. This is a very [4:57] important chart as it depicts a creative [5:00] strategy that provides the revenue [5:02] needed to maintain our current class [5:04] sizes and programming while keeping [5:06] voter approved taxes stable for 10 [5:09] years. First, the gray bars represent [5:11] our current debt. The blue bars are [5:14] questions one and two on the November [5:16] 4th ballot, the levy and the bond. Our [5:19] revenue shortfall is about $6.3 million [5:23] annually and we are taking a phased [5:25] approach to keep taxes stable. In phase [5:29] 1, which is years 1 to 2, 26 and 27, we [5:33] are asking for $275 [5:36] per student. This generates [5:39] approximately $2 million in revenue. You [5:42] may be wondering where we get the $4.3 [5:44] million since we need $6.3 million per [5:48] year. The $4.3 million comes from our [5:52] fund balance, which is our savings [5:54] account. So, $2 million from the levy [5:57] plus $4.3 million from the fund balance [6:01] equals $6.3 million in needed revenue. [6:05] In phase two, which is years 3 through [6:08] 10, 2028 through 2035, the levy [6:12] increases to $835 per student, which [6:16] generates $6.3 million in revenue. [6:20] Notice we are unable to use fund balance [6:22] here because we've already dipped into [6:24] our fund balance. Now, you may be [6:27] thinking your taxes may triple, but [6:29] notice the gray bars are shorter, so [6:32] they offset the larger levy amount. The [6:35] most important part of this chart is the [6:38] green dotted line at the top of the [6:40] bars. The dotted line represents the tax [6:43] impact. Notice with this strategy, [6:46] school taxes remain stable for 10 years. [6:50] Here is another way to look at our [6:52] phased approach. [6:54] Our district faces a revenue shortfall [6:57] of $6.3 million each year for the next [7:00] 10 years. In phase one, which covers [7:04] 2026 and 2027, we are asking for a [7:08] smaller levy of $275 [7:11] per student. This generates about $2 [7:14] million in revenue. To meet the full [7:17] $6.3 million we need, we'll use $4.3 [7:21] million from our fund balance. Together, [7:24] the levy and the fund balance fill the [7:27] gap. In phase two, beginning in 2028 and [7:31] running through 2035, we will [7:34] restructure existing debt to make room [7:37] for additional levy. At that point, the [7:40] levy would increase to $835 [7:43] per student, generating the full 6.3 [7:46] million in revenue annually. This phased [7:49] approach allows us to meet the needs of [7:52] our students while ensuring taxes remain [7:55] stable for the next 10 years. [8:00] Now, we will share information about [8:02] question two, the bond projects centered [8:04] on STMA, safety and security, [8:08] technology, maintenance, and academic [8:10] spaces. Remember, with the bond, the [8:13] state pays for approximately 60% for the [8:16] first few years. So to save taxpayers [8:19] money, we put as many of our needs into [8:22] the bond. [8:24] Safety and security. The bond addresses [8:27] essential safety and security needs, [8:29] including security doors at the high [8:32] school identified by Homeland Security [8:34] as a critical need. ADA compliant rubber [8:38] playground services for our three [8:40] elementary buildings, Albertville [8:42] Primary, and Community Education. In our [8:45] district, we have just under 14% of [8:47] students who have a disability and [8:49] receive special education services. Some [8:52] of these students have mobility issues [8:54] and cannot access the playground. All of [8:58] our children should have access to our [9:00] playgrounds and deserve to be able to [9:02] play on our playgrounds. In addition, [9:04] quite a few students hurt themselves on [9:07] the playgrounds as the wood chips we [9:09] currently have are not very soft. We [9:11] would also save money and time as our [9:14] grounds team would not have to spread [9:16] wood chips every year. Reliable phone [9:19] landlines across all STMA buildings. Our [9:22] phones are from the 1970s and often do [9:25] not allow us to receive or make calls. [9:28] This raises serious security issues. [9:32] Updated paging and bell systems. These [9:35] are needed in all eight of our buildings [9:37] as they do not work well. New fire [9:39] panels are needed at Fieldstone, Big [9:42] Woods, and the high school. Updated [9:45] security cameras in all of our district [9:47] buildings. Many of our cameras are [9:49] broken and no longer work. Vape [9:52] detectors at secondary schools. We have [9:55] some of these to deter tobacco and THC [9:58] use, but more are needed. These safety [10:02] and security projects are foundational [10:04] needs. Students can't learn and staff [10:07] can't teach if they don't feel safe. [10:10] Technology infrastructure is aging and [10:13] unreliable. [10:14] Bond funds would cover district-wide [10:16] infrastructure like network switches. [10:19] These are things we can't see but [10:21] desperately need to run our internet and [10:24] programs. Classroom boards and audio [10:26] systems in all STMA buildings so our [10:29] children can see and hear instruction [10:32] and access the curriculum. Boardroom [10:34] recording equipment for schoolboard [10:36] meeting transparency [10:39] AV systems for auditoriums and gyms in [10:41] STMA buildings as our current systems do [10:45] not work well. Please note this is not [10:47] about student devices. It's the [10:50] foundational systems that make teaching [10:52] and learning possible. [10:54] Facilities also need attention. Our [10:58] fitness center opened in 2009 and due to [11:01] lack of money, little has been done to [11:03] replace broken equipment. In addition, [11:06] the flooring needs to be replaced. Our [11:08] students use this space as a classroom [11:10] during the day and after school, and our [11:13] community uses it before school and in [11:15] the evenings for a fee. A flexible [11:18] theater music space. This blackbox [11:21] theater is a flexible multi-purpose [11:23] space with movable seating and staging. [11:27] This adaptability makes it an ideal [11:29] classroom and performance venue, giving [11:32] students an opportunity to learn in a [11:34] space that our theater students could [11:37] use as a classroom throughout the school [11:39] day as we currently do not have the [11:41] appropriate space for our theater [11:43] classes. We would also use it after [11:45] school, evenings, and on weekends for [11:48] choirs, speech teams, small music [11:51] ensembles, dance groups, and academic [11:54] presentations. [11:56] For baseball and softball fields, the [11:59] current clay soil on our high school [12:01] campus often makes play fields [12:04] unplayable when wet. Proposed updates [12:07] would ensure our athletes can safely [12:10] practice and compete throughout the [12:12] rainy fall and spring seasons. Adding [12:14] field lights would extend opportunities [12:17] for students to participate in early [12:19] morning and evening practices and games. [12:22] These improvements would create a true [12:24] multi-use field, expanding access for [12:27] more students. Along with baseball and [12:29] softball, youth programs and boys and [12:32] girls soccer, boys and girls lacrosse [12:35] and football could use the field without [12:38] restrictions caused by weather or [12:40] overuse. [12:42] Bond funding would also support academic [12:45] learning spaces. Modernizing the high [12:48] school and St. Michael Elementary Media [12:50] Centers would transform them into [12:52] flexible collaborative learning [12:54] environments. [12:56] You may be wondering why we would ask [12:58] for money for a STEM center. While [13:01] developing this plan, we learned that to [13:03] qualify for approximately 60% in state [13:06] aid on bonds in the first few years, the [13:09] state requires either a new building or [13:11] an addition. Since a new building is not [13:14] financially feasible, we are proposing a [13:17] K12 science, technology, engineering, [13:20] and math center addition at the high [13:23] school. This space would serve students [13:25] in every grade from kindergarten through [13:27] high school. Kindergarten through middle [13:30] school students would regularly visit [13:32] the STEM center for hands-on lessons in [13:34] the Lego Lab, a space designed for [13:37] introductory Lego robotics. Research [13:40] shows that even for students who pursue [13:42] non- STEM careers, these experiences [13:45] build essential skills such as problem [13:47] solving, critical thinking, [13:49] communication, and collaboration. At the [13:52] high school level, students would learn [13:54] in specialized spaces for robotics, [13:57] computer science, and advanced [13:59] manufacturing. [14:01] The center would feature a full-size [14:03] competitive robotics field, advanced [14:05] manufacturing equipment, and a dedicated [14:08] computer lab. In the evenings, it would [14:11] also serve as a hub for robotics, [14:13] community education programs for [14:15] students in grades 1 through 12. [14:17] Currently, students need more room to [14:20] practice, store equipment, and support a [14:22] full K12 program. The varsity team must [14:26] travel to Becker twice a week for [14:28] practice, reducing valuable build and [14:30] preparation time. [14:33] So what does this mean for a typical [14:35] taxpayer? [14:37] For the average $400,000 home in Wright [14:41] County, the tax impact for question one, [14:44] the operating levy would cost $17 a [14:47] month. For question two, the bond, it [14:50] would cost8 thou $8 a month. [14:55] The total for both questions would be [14:57] $25 a month. There's also a tax [15:00] calculator on our website where you can [15:02] plug in your property's value for a [15:04] personalized estimate. So, what happens [15:07] if the questions don't pass? If question [15:10] one does not pass, the district [15:12] anticipates cutting 19 to 25 teaching [15:15] positions in the 2026 2027 school year [15:19] with 20 to 25 teachers the following [15:22] year and another 20 to 25 the next year. [15:26] The past will repeat itself as our [15:29] current 5-year projected budget is [15:32] similar to the last five years where we [15:34] cut 77 staff positions. A fail on this [15:38] question would meet very large class [15:40] sizes and reduced supports for students. [15:44] If question two does not pass, critical [15:46] facility needs will still have to be [15:48] addressed, but money would come out of [15:50] the general fund, which pays for staff. [15:53] This would also result in more cuts to [15:56] teaching positions. [15:58] Community meetings and voting [16:00] information. We have scheduled six [16:02] community information sessions in [16:04] September and October. They're scheduled [16:07] at different times and different days, [16:09] including a Saturday to accommodate [16:11] varying schedules. [16:13] Early voting runs from September 19th [16:16] through November 3rd at the STMA [16:18] district office for most voters or the [16:21] Wright County Government Center if you [16:23] live within the district and in Monosel [16:26] Township. [16:28] Election day is Tuesday, November 4th at [16:31] Middle School West or Monaceel Township [16:33] if you live within the district and in [16:35] Monaceel Township. [16:37] Our website has lots of information [16:40] including an FAQ, videos, tax [16:43] calculator, and more. We welcome [16:46] questions as we want taxpayers to make [16:48] informed decisions. Questions can be [16:51] emailed to vote2025stmma.org. [16:57] Strong schools are the backbone of [16:59] strong communities. Our children will [17:02] one day lead our cities, businesses, [17:05] churches, and state. They will be our [17:08] teachers, nurses, first responders, and [17:11] they will take care of us when we are [17:13] not able to care for ourselves. By [17:16] investing in our children, we reflect [17:18] the shared values of our community, [17:20] attract families, and deliver the [17:23] educational excellence our families [17:25] expect and our kids deserve. We are [17:28] STMA.