Frequently Asked Questions

 Find answers to your questions about the bond referendum

Questions About The Process:

  • This plan is the result of over a year of thoughtful planning, research, and community engagement. The district partnered with ICS, an experienced PreK-12 facility planning and construction firm, to assess facility conditions, complete demographic and enrollment studies, and evaluate space use.

    Hundreds of community members shaped this plan through stakeholder meetings, surveys, and committee discussions. We also considered alternatives, like repurposing existing spaces or phasing improvements, but determined they wouldn’t fully meet our needs or were cost-prohibitive.

    Community members prioritized:

    1. Reducing gym and activity scheduling constraints

    2. Improving access to health and wellness supports

    3. Keeping student programs in one secure building

    4. Expanding career-focused learning

    Learn more about the planning process and how we got to this point here.

  • The district partnered with Morris Leatherman to survey 400 randomly selected residents in early 2025. Key findings included:

    1. 86% of residents trust the district to make the right decisions

    2. 84% believe ACGC meaningfully involves the community in planning

    3. 66% agree a new multipurpose indoor activities space would be a valuable community asset

    4. 80% are satisfied with the district’s overall direction

    These results confirmed community support for modernizing facilities, expanding student opportunities, and improving spaces for community use.

  • Yes. The district submitted a Review and Comment document to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), a required step for building bond referenda. The MDE carefully reviews project plans, financial data, and facility assessments to ensure the proposal addresses real needs and is fiscally responsible. The MDE issued a Positive Review and Comment, confirming the district’s proposed improvements are reasonable and necessary.

  • A building bond referendum raises funds for long-term facility improvements like new construction, major renovations, or deferred maintenance projects. An operating levy raises funds for day-to-day expenses, like staff salaries, utilities, classroom supplies, and educational programming. Bond referendum funds cannot legally be used for operational costs. The district is proposing a building bond referendum on Tuesday, November 4.

  • The last bond referendum for facilities improvements was proposed, and approved, in November 2018. The 2018 referendum included various renovations to the elementary school, including mechanical systems, lighting, exterior improvements, furniture and technology systems, finishes, and safety improvements. Improvements at the junior/senior high school included air conditioning/dehumidification and safety/security improvements.

    Since then, the district has relied on state-allocated Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) funding to address smaller repairs and updates. However, larger needs—like adding space, modernizing CTE classrooms, or replacing aging boilers—require voter approval.

Questions About Our Challenges:

  • Delaying these improvements would likely result in significantly higher costs down the road. Factors such as inflation, continued supply chain disruptions, and increased demand for labor and materials could drive up prices if the district waits. Providing residents with an opportunity to invest in these improvements now best positions the district for long-term success, ensuring our facilities are equipped to meet educational needs, support student wellness, and serve our community well into the future.

  • If approved, the referendum would address several key facility challenges that directly impact students, staff, and the community:

    1. Overcrowded gym space and limited scheduling flexibility: The existing gym is heavily used for classes, athletics, and community activities, especially during winter months, leading to scheduling conflicts that affect families and student access to healthy activities.

    2. Inadequate, outdated fitness space: The current fitness room was originally designed as storage and lacks proper space, ventilation, and equipment, limiting student wellness and training opportunities.

    3. Wrestling program in a separate, aging facility: The current wrestling space is detached from the main school, which raises safety, supervision, and accessibility concerns and requires significant mechanical upgrades.

    4. Outdated CTE classrooms and equipment: Limited space and aging equipment make it harder to offer modern, hands-on programs in welding, agriculture, construction technology, and other high-demand fields.

    5. Critical deferred maintenance needs: These include replacing an aging boiler, targeted roof repairs, resurfacing parking lots, upgrading water filtration systems, and repairing exterior building envelopes, all of which help protect the district’s assets and maintain safe, healthy learning environments.

    Together, these improvements aim to better serve students today, support evolving educational programs, and protect the community’s investment in district facilities for years to come. Learn more about our facility challenges here.

  • Current gym spaces are used nearly nonstop, especially during winter months, which forces some programs into late-night or weekend time slots, impacting families and staff.

    Our existing fitness area, built for storage, lacks proper space, equipment, and ventilation, making it unsuitable for modern student wellness programming.

    CTE classrooms are undersized and not equipped for modern equipment, limiting student opportunities in fields like welding, agriculture, and construction technology—areas critical for the local workforce. Additional and upgraded space helps ensure safe, equitable, and modern learning environments.

  • Yes. Over the last several years, our district and facility staff have done a great job keeping our facility maintained, and have been able to make improvements as dollars allow. However, several facility and programmatic needs extend beyond our annual maintenance budgets allocated from the State of Minnesota.

    Asking for voter-approved dollars is common across the state, more than 75% of Minnesota school districts have leveraged bond referendums to improve the conditions of their facilities. Our school’s physical facility and educational needs will continue to worsen the longer we wait to address them.

  • A third-party demographic and enrollment study shows that district enrollment has remained steady over the past several years and is projected to remain stable over the next decade.

  • Many of these needs have emerged over time: roofs and boilers are reaching the end of their useful lives; participation in student programs has grown; and expectations for modern, career-focused learning spaces have evolved. The district has addressed smaller projects when possible, but larger improvements require voter-approved funding.

  • Yes. In the last 10 years, voters in 225 Minnesota school districts have approved building bond referenda to finance construction projects to address aging facilities, expand programming, and improve safety.

Questions About The Plan:

  • On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, residents will vote on a $15.95 million bond referendum to build a new multi-purpose addition to our junior/senior high school including health and fitness space, improving our Career and Technical Education (CTE) space with additional equipment and furnishings, relocating our wrestling space inside our 5-12 building and renovating the space to better support our student athletes’ needs, and addressing critical deferred maintenance needs. Learn more about the proposed plan here.

  • The proposed $15.95 million building bond referendum includes several targeted improvements to better serve students, staff, and the community:

    • A new multipurpose gymnasium at the 5–12 building, featuring a walking track and flexible space. This addition would ease scheduling pressures, expand access for physical education classes and extracurricular activities, and be available for community use like youth sports, walking groups, and local events.

    • A dedicated, modern fitness and wellness area designed with appropriate space, ventilation, and equipment for cardio and strength training. This space would support student wellness during the school day, athletic training, and could be available for community health programs outside school hours.

    • Relocation and renovation of the wrestling space into our 5-12 building. Moving wrestling inside the main building would improve safety, accessibility, and supervision, while upgrades like new mats, wall padding, flooring, and ventilation would create a better environment for athletes.

    • Upgrades to Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces, including modern equipment and furnishings. These improvements would expand hands-on learning opportunities in high-demand areas like welding, agriculture, woods, and construction technology, helping prepare students for local workforce needs.

    • Deferred maintenance projects to protect and extend the life of district facilities. These include replacing the aging boiler at the 5–12 building, targeted roof repairs, resurfacing parking lots to improve safety and drainage, installing water filtration systems at both buildings, and repairing bricks and seals at the PreK–4 building to prevent moisture intrusion.

    Together, these investments are designed to meet current challenges, adapt to evolving student and community needs, and protect the community’s investment in ACGC Public Schools for the long term.

  • The plan funds updated workstations, safety equipment, and furnishings for programs such as welding, construction technology, agriculture, woods, and family and consumer sciences (FACS). These updates help students gain real-world skills aligned with local workforce needs. Specific equipment and furnishings have not been finalized, and the district would request input from staff and students to help guide these decisions to best meet educational needs.

  • The proposed improvements are designed to make ACGC’s facilities more inclusive, flexible, and future-ready, benefiting everyone who uses them:

    • Support student wellness and development: A new multipurpose gym and modern fitness space would reduce scheduling conflicts and provide more opportunities for daily physical education, athletic training, and even therapy services for students needing occupational or physical support.

    • Expand hands-on, career-focused learning: Updated Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces with new equipment and furnishings would allow more students to explore welding, agriculture, construction technology, and other high-demand fields, giving them practical skills for life beyond high school.

    • Improve safety and accessibility: Relocating the wrestling program inside the main building creates a more secure, well-supervised environment and eliminates the need to travel to an older, detached building, especially important during colder months.

    • Increase community access and engagement: The new multipurpose gym would include a walking track open to the public, supporting local wellness year-round. A flexible community/health classroom could host small group meetings, yoga classes, wellness workshops, and adult education programs, making the building a true gathering space for residents of all ages.

    • Protect and preserve district assets: Addressing critical deferred maintenance, like boiler replacement, roof repairs, and water filtration upgrades, helps avoid costly emergency repairs, extends the lifespan of district facilities, and ensures healthy, safe environments for students and staff.

    Overall, these investments would strengthen the connection between ACGC schools and the broader community, helping ensure the district continues to serve as a hub for education, wellness, and local activities for years to come.

  • This plan is the result of the direct outcome of the months of community input, planning, and development efforts. If the referendum fails, the district will begin the planning process again to determine the next appropriate course of action.

    What we can say is the needs will not go away. Physical conditions will continue to age, or in some cases deteriorate, and the district will need to find some way to address those issues. Additionally, the time to address these issues is now, as the costs will only increase with time.

  • In Minnesota, voters decide whether school districts can increase property taxes to pay for the bonds used for renovating and constructing school buildings. Like a loan on a car or mortgage on a house, the bonds need to be repaid over time plus interest.

  • Strong schools attract families, businesses and industries, which can stimulate economic growth in a community and create job opportunities. Schools often serve as a hub for community education and events, fostering a sense of belonging among residents. New investments, or a lack of them, in schools and their facilities can significantly influence these impacts of schools within our communities.

  • We can. However, if we delay, it won’t change the need to invest in space, equipment, and deferred maintenance, but the cost to local taxpayers will likely increase due to construction inflation and added interest costs.

  • State law requires school districts to present one facility plan per ballot question. The district explored alternatives but determined this single-question bond best meets current needs while respecting taxpayer resources.

  • Yes. A draft design of the plan has been developed, but school districts do not typically invest in developing detailed design plans unless voters approve the plan and authorize funding. Conceptual drawings can be viewed on the Plan page.

Questions About The Cost:

  • The referendum asks voters to approve a $15.95 million building bond to fund the proposed improvements. This total includes not only the estimated construction costs, but also other standard project costs such as design and engineering fees, furniture and equipment purchases, and a small contingency to cover unforeseen conditions that can arise in construction.


    The total cost also covers bond issuance costs and interest over time, which is typical for school construction projects funded through voter-approved bonds. The district would repay these bonds over a period of about 20 years, similar to a mortgage, using property tax revenue. By planning these costs upfront, the district aims to deliver a complete project that is financially responsible for district tax-payers. Learn more about the cost of the project on the Cost Page.

  • The plan's financial impact will vary based on property value, with an estimated $8.17 per month property tax increase for a $250,000 residential home, starting in 2026. For an agricultural homestead with an estimated market value of $9,000 per acre, the estimated tax impact would be $0.04 per acre per month ($0.59 per acre per year) starting in 2026. You can view your specific tax impact by using our tax calculator.

    You can learn more about the project cost and how it impacts your specific taxes by visiting the Cost page.

  • Taxes to pay down approved bonds would expire after 20 years or when the bonds have been fully paid, whichever happens sooner.

  • Minnesota offers several tax credits and deferrals that can reduce the tax impact of a referendum, such as the Minnesota Homestead Credit Refund, Special Property Tax Refund, and the Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral.

  • For owners of farmland, the Minnesota’s Ag2School tax credit offers a 70% tax credit on agricultural property (excluding house, garage, and one acre). This automatic, dollar-for-dollar credit covers about 42% of the bond's principal and interest, significantly reducing costs for agricultural landowners.

    This is not a tax deduction – it is an automatic dollar-for-dollar credit with no application required.

  • The district has worked closely with ICS, a consulting firm experienced in school construction, to ensure the project will remain on time and on budget.

  • While it’s true that local businesses would share in the cost of the referendum through property taxes, strong, modern schools play a direct role in strengthening the local economy.

    Quality school facilities help attract and retain families and employees, which increases the customer base for local businesses and keeps our communities vibrant. Updated spaces and expanded programs, especially in Career and Technical Education (CTE), help prepare students with skills that align with the needs of local employers, building a stronger future workforce right here in our community.

    Modern, accessible school facilities also support community events, youth sports, wellness programs, and adult education, bringing more people into town and creating ripple effects that benefit restaurants, shops, and service providers.

    In this way, investing in school improvements is also an investment in the long-term health, growth, and competitiveness of our local businesses and the community as a whole.

Questions About Design and Construction:

  • If the referendum passes, design work would begin in November 2025 and continue through May 2026. The bidding phase would take place in June 2026, followed by construction starting in September 2026. Construction is expected to wrap up by July 2027, so students and staff could start using the new and improved spaces by August 2027.

    Throughout the process, the project team plans to phase the work carefully to limit disruptions to learning and may adjust the timeline based on market conditions, material lead times, and other factors.

  • If voters approve the referendum, the district would move into the design phase, a collaborative process that typically begins right after the election and would run from November 2025 through May 2026.

    During this phase, district leaders, teachers, staff, architects, and community representatives would work closely together to refine floor plans, review renderings, and make decisions about details like space layouts, equipment placement, and finishes. This process ensures that the new and renovated spaces truly reflect educational goals, student needs, and community priorities.

    Community members would have opportunities to provide input through meetings, design workshops, or feedback sessions. The goal is to create modern, flexible, and durable spaces that support daily student learning, athletics, and activities, while also serving broader community uses like adult education classes, walking groups, and local events.

    By involving those who will use and benefit from the spaces every day, the design process helps ensure the final project aligns with the district’s vision and the community’s shared values.

  • If the referendum is approved, the district will work closely with the project team, teachers, and staff to carefully plan construction in phases that minimize disruptions to learning and daily routines.

    Construction activities would typically be scheduled to take place during summer months whenever possible. For work that must happen during the school year, crews would coordinate closely with school leadership to keep construction areas safely separated from student spaces with secure barriers and signage.

    The district’s top priority throughout the project would be maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive environment for students and staff. Clear communication with families, staff, and the community will help everyone know what to expect as work progresses.

    Thanks to thoughtful planning and phased construction, students would continue learning in their usual classrooms while gaining the excitement of seeing new, modern spaces take shape around them.

Questions About Voting:

  • Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Early voting will begin on Friday, September 19, 2025, and be available through Monday, November 3, 2025. Learn more on the Voting Page.

  • Yes. Early voting will begin on Friday, September 19, 2025, and be available through Monday, November 3, 2025. Learn more on the Voting Page.

  • Yes, the sample ballot can be viewed here.

  • Residents can explore this website to learn more about the referendum. Please use the Connect Page to contact the district with questions or feedback.