$462M SoWashCo Schools Plan To Be Explained At Virtual Session

WOODBURY, MN — South Washington County Schools officials will continue their push to convince residents about a 10-year, $462 million facilities plan with a virtual informational session Thursday night.

The Zoom session is scheduled to run from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday. It’s the second informational session this week, after officials held an in-person event Tuesday night at Oltman Middle School in Cottage Grove.

Click here Thursday night to join the Zoom session.

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SoWashCo officials are proposing renovations and improvements at almost all of the district’s two dozen schools as part of the decade-long, nine-figure plan. Recommendations also include the closure of Newport Elementary School, the relocation of Crestview Elementary and the rebuilding of Pine Hill Elementary.

Officials say these renovations, improvements and other projects are necessary for the district to accommodate growing enrollment figures.

Enrollment is projected to increase by about 4,000 students over the next decade, which would mean at least 15 schools would be operating over capacity without major changes, according to district officials.

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East Ridge and Woodbury high schools are currently operating over capacity, while three other schools are expected to be over capacity within two years, officials said.

None of the recommended projects would be finished before the 2025-26 school year, according to the district.

The SoWashCo board is expected to vote on the $462 million facilities plan and bond proposal at its April 21 meeting. The board’s approval would put the nine-figure referendum proposal on the ballot for a special election Aug. 9, which is the same day as Minnesota’s primary elections.

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District officials estimate that homeowners whose property is valued at $300,000 would pay about $23 more per month, or $280 a year, if the $462 million referendum is approved by the board and voters.

Click here to see how the $462 million proposal would impact each school in the South Washington County Schools system.

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