The Weekly Update #4

A survey will be arriving to all households within the district on or around November 13. The survey will help community members understand facility needs for Windom Area Schools and it will give everyone a chance to provide feedback. The information below will help answer questions before the survey arrives.

What Does This Project Include?

• Fields for Soccer, Football, Baseball, and Softball on Campus
• Reconstructing the Track
• Additional Parking Lot Spaces, Concession Stand, Ticket Booth, Grandstand, Crows Nest, Batting Cage, and Bullpens.
• Wrestling Room
• Gymnastics Room
• Locker Room Remodel
• Space for Robotics
• Fine Arts Center (for concerts, plays, and community events)

The BIG Question - How MUCH?

AT MOST, the project would cost taxpayers $35M to address ALL Arts and Athletic needs. Capitalized Interest was added to the $33M total that was posted in the Citizen to give us a grand total of $35M. This is before Grants, Donations, and Naming Right Contributions have been subtracted.

A home valued at $100,000 would see an increase in taxes of $7 per month.

A home valued at $200,000 would see an increase in taxes of $19 per month.

A home valued at $300,000 would see an increase in taxes of $32 per month.

The district is committed to find ways to bring down the cost for taxpayers. These include grants, donations, Naming Rights, and Ag2School Credit. We currently have 12 grants written and are working on more. There is a committee who will be implementing the Naming Rights Program (see below). The major player in the funding plan is Ag2School Credit. Ag2School Credit is a funding mechanism in statue that rural districts use when seeking to improve facilities. State Aid covers 70% of the Ag Land tax increase. To help us understand this, we have to know that 60 % of the district's tax base is Ag Land.

Ag2School Credit Example Scenario

• 60% of our tax base is farmland. So 60% of the $35M is $21M.
• Ag2School State Aid Accounts for 70% of the Ag Land’s increase in taxes.
• So 70% of $21M is $14.7M in State Aid ($ from the state) or 42% of the project.
• This leaves local taxpayers with $20.3M of $35M.
• The Windom Community will benefit from a project in which the state pays for $14.7M or 42% of the final amount.

On Tuesday, October 22, the Windom School Board hosted an information session regarding facility needs. Many of you were able to join us and we appreciated the dialogue, thoughts, and questions. For those of you who who had other commitments that night, please click here for a summary of the presentation.

Windom Schools engaged in a Facilities Study with Mammoth Architects and Engineers. The current situation is such:

• Island Park has flooded three times in six years leaving student athletes with inconsistent fields on which to play.
• The track is in poor condition.
• There is not a space for wrestling within Windom Area Schools. They practice in Mt. Lake and haul mats to Windom on a trailer for Meets.
• Gymnastics has a practice space (auxiliary gym), but must move all equipment to the gym for Meets.
• Concerts take place in gym. Acoustics are a challenge. Setup and take down are a challenge.
• Musicals and plays are performed in the Lecture Hall. The stage is small, it is outdated, there are no microphones, no backstage area, no changing area and no storage.
• The Locker Room is in need of an update. There is a lack of Team Room space, private showers, and lockers.

• Build an Athletic Complex with a Multi-purpose Field for Football, Soccer, Baseball, and Softball.
• Resurface the track.
• Create a second story above the Weightroom for Wrestling.
• Create a spectator viewing space in the Auxiliary Gym so Gymnastics Meets can take place there.
• Remodel the locker room to account for team space for viewing footage and strategizing, a Sports Medicine Space, and private showers.
• Construct a Fine Arts Center for concerts, musicals, and speaking events.

Leave a Legacy! Support the Windom Eagles Arts and Athletics Programs. Groups, Individuals , and Businesses may purchase naming rights to parts of the project. Click here to view the Naming Right Options and details of the board approved program.

Call (507)831-6910 or email Jamie Frank at jfrank@isd177.com or Jacob Johnson jjohnson@isd177.com with questions, comments or to purchase naming rights.

To ask the school board a question, please complete this form.

Click here to view a Frequently Asked Question Sheet.