Delano School District residents could experience déjà vu this spring if school officials move forward with plans to seek voter-approved funding for a new elementary school.
In November, residents in Delano, Independence and Loretto approved a $700,000-a-year, 10-year levy to operate the proposed $29 million school, but they rejected spending proposals to purchase land for the school and build it.
Concerns about whether voters understood the operating levy question, which passed 1,343 to 1,339, prompted residents to petition the district for a recount last month. The approval was upheld with one additional yes vote.
Now the district is trying to figure out the best way to revive the funding requests to build the school. "The need [for more space] didn't change because they voted down questions two and three," Superintendent John Sweet said.
Delano's enrollment, now 2,248, has increased by almost 400 students since 2002. The district expects to add more than 300 students to its attendance rolls by 2012. Meanwhile, all three of its schools are currently at or above capacity, school officials said.
If built, the new school would be an intermediate school for grades 4-6. It would be on a 13-acre site across from the existing elementary school. Delano's school configuration would be similar to the neighboring Orono School District, which also has a single campus and an intermediate school.
"We've maintained good class sizes, but we need to let the public know that our buildings are crowded," said Sarah Gallagher, school board vice chairwoman.
Gallagher and others at a school board meeting Thursday discussed whether the construction and land acquisition proposals should be presented to voters as one ballot question or two, and considered the best timing for a referendum. Board members did not pass a resolution but said they may schedule a referendum in April.
