Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens if question 1 is approved?
A: If Question 1 on the referendum is approved, the district would move forward with the following projects :
Q: What would happen if only one of the two questions is approved by voters?
A: If Question #1 is approved, but Question #2 is not, the Hawley Public Schools would still move ahead with the projects covered in the first referendum question. However, the district will not be able to proceed at all if only Question #2 is approved by voters. Question 1 must pass before Question 2 can pass.
Q: What happens if the referendum is not approved?
A: If left unaddressed, the space and facility challenges the Hawley Public Schools is facing could negatively impact the outstanding schools our community members have come to expect. These needs will only get worse if we wait to address them, and our students would continue to see increasing class sizes.
If neither questions are approved on November 8, district leaders and the School Board would immediately go back to the drawing board to find an alternative solution to our space and facility needs.
Q: Why not build a high school instead of a middle school?
A: A new middle school is the most fiscally responsible approach, it costs less than building a new high school, and doesn’t put middle school students in a high school building. Building a new high school would require building performance spaces for fine arts and athletics along with large shop areas and other high school classroom spaces that aren’t necessary in a middle school. Duplicating these spaces would add $8.8 million to the cost of a new building. Meanwhile students in middle school would be going to school in a building built for older students, instead of in a middle school “pod” setting. In a public opinion survey, Hawley residents supported a new middle school as the best approach to solving our capacity challenges.
Q: Are we building enough? Why would we build only to cover growth?
A: The district must follow the Minnesota Department of Education Guide for Planning School Construction Projects in Minnesota, which recommends operating at a 90% capacity at the elementary level and at 80% capacity at the high school level. This allows for future growth and implementation of new programming if needed. The Department of Education must approve the district plan for a new building prior to going to the voters and base the size of the proposed new building on the current and future demographic data. The district must stay within the MDE guidelines when developing plans for a new building.
The district commissioned a demographic study looking at enrollment the past 5 years, current enrollment, and projected enrollment based on birthrates, housing, etc. The proposed plan addresses project growth and will also allow for easy expansion in the future if enrollment continues to grow.
Q: Is a synthetic turf field better than grass?
A: Yes, it’s a significant upgrade, because a field with synthetic turf can be used for gym classes, athletics, community activities and more, for a longer period of time each year. It isn’t damaged by weather or use, and is expected to last at least ten years. Its use can be expanded to include junior varsity games, other sports, like softball and baseball, and practices. But most importantly, gym classes can use the field all day. Graduations, other non-athletic events and activities, and community groups can also use the field. The cost per student hour of use is significantly lower than a grass field, and it's safer - no twisted ankles from potholes in the field.
Planning Process FAQs can be found here.
A: If Question 1 on the referendum is approved, the district would move forward with the following projects :
- Build a new 5th-8th grade middle school building, designed to meet Minnesota Department of Education guidelines for square footage allocations.
- Purchase an additional 10-20 acres to the north of our campus to support the new school and provide adequate green space.
- Convert our high school to serve grades 9-12, with an addition constructed to provide a secured entry and office space at the exterior of the school.
- Build a new fitness space and remodel the existing weight room to create a new main entrance into the high school gym.
- Minor remodels to update current office spaces that will be relocated to educational space, while enlarging the district office to better support staff.
- Convert our elementary school to a PreK-4 school, with a small addition to create larger, appropriately sized preschool rooms and a music classroom.
- Remodel existing spaces into larger, appropriately sized kindergarten classrooms.
- Add new restrooms and a concession stand to the north of the elementary school campus to support the football field and track.
- Convert the current band space at the elementary school to cafeteria space to support additional capacity.
- Address deferred maintenance needs at our elementary and high school buildings.
Q: What would happen if only one of the two questions is approved by voters?
A: If Question #1 is approved, but Question #2 is not, the Hawley Public Schools would still move ahead with the projects covered in the first referendum question. However, the district will not be able to proceed at all if only Question #2 is approved by voters. Question 1 must pass before Question 2 can pass.
Q: What happens if the referendum is not approved?
A: If left unaddressed, the space and facility challenges the Hawley Public Schools is facing could negatively impact the outstanding schools our community members have come to expect. These needs will only get worse if we wait to address them, and our students would continue to see increasing class sizes.
If neither questions are approved on November 8, district leaders and the School Board would immediately go back to the drawing board to find an alternative solution to our space and facility needs.
Q: Why not build a high school instead of a middle school?
A: A new middle school is the most fiscally responsible approach, it costs less than building a new high school, and doesn’t put middle school students in a high school building. Building a new high school would require building performance spaces for fine arts and athletics along with large shop areas and other high school classroom spaces that aren’t necessary in a middle school. Duplicating these spaces would add $8.8 million to the cost of a new building. Meanwhile students in middle school would be going to school in a building built for older students, instead of in a middle school “pod” setting. In a public opinion survey, Hawley residents supported a new middle school as the best approach to solving our capacity challenges.
Q: Are we building enough? Why would we build only to cover growth?
A: The district must follow the Minnesota Department of Education Guide for Planning School Construction Projects in Minnesota, which recommends operating at a 90% capacity at the elementary level and at 80% capacity at the high school level. This allows for future growth and implementation of new programming if needed. The Department of Education must approve the district plan for a new building prior to going to the voters and base the size of the proposed new building on the current and future demographic data. The district must stay within the MDE guidelines when developing plans for a new building.
The district commissioned a demographic study looking at enrollment the past 5 years, current enrollment, and projected enrollment based on birthrates, housing, etc. The proposed plan addresses project growth and will also allow for easy expansion in the future if enrollment continues to grow.
Q: Is a synthetic turf field better than grass?
A: Yes, it’s a significant upgrade, because a field with synthetic turf can be used for gym classes, athletics, community activities and more, for a longer period of time each year. It isn’t damaged by weather or use, and is expected to last at least ten years. Its use can be expanded to include junior varsity games, other sports, like softball and baseball, and practices. But most importantly, gym classes can use the field all day. Graduations, other non-athletic events and activities, and community groups can also use the field. The cost per student hour of use is significantly lower than a grass field, and it's safer - no twisted ankles from potholes in the field.
Planning Process FAQs can be found here.