Voters are being asked to approve $275 million in new funding for a dramatic overhaul of school buildings in the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale district.
The district’s plan calls for two new school buildings and four closures, plus seven building expansions.
Superintendent Christine Osorio says the district has a “unique opportunity” to invest in its facilities because it’s almost done paying off debt from two large projects from the 1990s.
If the borrowing plan is approved May 14, the owner of a $200,000 home would pay around $60 more per year, according to the district.
Plans include:
- Renovating and expanding North and Tartan high schools and John Glenn Middle
- Demolishing Maplewood Middle and building a new elementary on the site
- Moving elementary students out of Skyview to make room for more middle schoolers
- Closing Oakdale and Webster elementary schools
- Demolishing and building a new Eagle Point Elementary on the same site
- Various renovations, new furniture and improved security and traffic flow
Although the number of schools would drop by two, the district as a whole would have more student capacity because of the building expansions.
The district says it will draw new school boundary lines, whether or not the bond election succeeds.
Expansion projects using a different funding stream are underway at Castle and Richardson elementary schools.