The Prior Lake-Savage school board is going to ask voters two ballot questions in November that, if approved, would provide the school district an extra $2.35 million a year in operations funding and allow it to open a new elementary school.

After a month of disagreements about how much money should be requested, and how many different ballot questions would have the greatest chance of success with voters, the board voted 4-3 last week to put two questions before voters.

School board members stressed that passage of the levy questions is vital. If the questions fail, the school district will lose $7 million in annual funding that it has been collecting. The three board members who voted against the levy measures didn't disagree that the funding is needed but thought the board should ask the questions differently.

The board's first ballot question will ask the community to renew $7 million in extra operating funds that the district already receives, and provide an additional $1.65 million to open Redtail Ridge Elementary for the 2009-2010 school year, and provide two additional teachers.

Redtail Ridge is a new elementary school in Savage that will sit empty for the upcoming school year because the school district does not have the funds to operate it. "We need to open that school," said Board Chairman Tom Anderson, alluding to the fact that the new building would lower class sizes district-wide. "Class sizes are getting outrageous."

The second question would generate $700,000 annually in new revenue for the school district, which would provide the district with an additional 11.3 teachers to reduce class sizes.

"I think all of us have the students at heart," said Board Member Diane Ziemann, who voted against the levy questions because she felt the first question should have been divided into two questions, to ensure that the board passes the renewal of the $7 million in annual operating funds. "But I'm not a gambling gal. We need to renew what we have."

Emily Johns • 952-882-9056