The February ballot will include two questions and the ballot language, as drafted, will read as follows:

• Question 1 - Shall the board of Independent School District No. 2144 (Chisago Lakes), Minnesota be authorized to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $48,100,000 for acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to, safety and security improvements at Primary School, Taylors Falls Elementary, the Middle School and the High School, and various other capital projects districtwide?

• Question 2 - If School District Question 1 is approved, shall the board of Independent School District No. 2144 (Chisago Lakes), Minnesota be authorized to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $7,505,000 for acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to, athletic facilities improvements?

Our District has been actively engaged in facilities planning since 2022.  After the unsuccessful referendums, the Chisago Lakes’ Administration and School Board have been working with a K-12 facility planning consultant to help develop a fiscally responsible plan for addressing the infrastructure and educational needs in our District. Since February of 2024, the District has:

• Completed an independent assessment of our facilities 

• Surveyed staff on day-to-day facility challenges

• Engaged a Community Advisory Committee to help develop and finalize potential solutions

• Sought feedback from our communities through a survey to determine what solutions would be supported 

• Conducted Administration and Board work sessions to develop a project that fit our community

• Developed a community-based Strategic Plan for the District

• Conducted another community survey in June 2025, after the failed May referendum

• Reduced scope and divided the referendum into two questions based on feedback from our community

• Decided, with unanimous School Board support, to seek voter approval for funding to address safety and security, essential facility needs, and ADA compliance and accessibility.

This collaborative and transparent approach led to the prioritized plan voters will have the opportunity to finalize with their February 10, 2026 referendum vote.

A facility condition assessment conducted by an independent firm found that some of our facilities have failing systems for heating and cooling, electrical, and other critical infrastructure needs. Building entrances and doors need enhanced security to prevent unauthorized access. Classrooms without permanent walls and doors also present safety and security risks. Areas like a nurse’s room that fail to meet ADA standards for accessibility must be rebuilt. While the District budgets every year for facility maintenance, it is not enough to cover all the essential priority needs in our District. 

The 2024 facility assessment included a comprehensive list of facility improvements needed to extend the life of our facilities. After working with the Facilities Task Force to refine plans and surveying staff and community on priorities, the proposed plan would address safety and security needs, replace worn out and end of life building infrastructure, and address non-compliant spaces to meet ADA standards and accessibility.

The priorities in this plan were divided into two questions for voters, and include safety and security enhancements and essential facility needs:

QUESTION 1:

Safety and Security Enhancements

• Relocate main office and create secure entrance (MS)

• Install additional security cameras (HS, MS, PS)

• Replace paging(HS, MS, TF)

• Replace failing interior/exterior doors (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Replace fire alarms systems (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Expand and install sprinkler systems (HS, MS)

• Install additional electrical outlets (HS, MS)

• Renovate entire third floor and add permanent walls with doors (MS)

• Replace emergency & exterior lighting/controls (TF, PS)

• Replace exterior handrails (MS)

Facilities Needs

• Replace or upgrade end-of-life heating/cooling/HVAC equipment and controls (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Replace and/or repair leaking windows, (HS, MS, PS)

• Upgrade electrical power distribution (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Upgrade wireless access (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Upgrade phone systems (HS, MS)

• Repair building exteriors and sites including masonry, siding, and drainage (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Upgrade plumbing and replace areas of galvanized piping (HS, MS)

• Replace playground equipment (TF, PS)

• Renew worn interior ceilings, flooring, walls, casework, lockers (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Replace auditorium sound and lighting systems and stage curtain (HS)

• Remodel kitchen prep and enlarge entrance to cafeteria (MS)

• New instrument and sheet metal storage (MS)

ADA Compliance and Accessibility

• Address ADA accessibility in nurse’s area (TF) 

• Address ADA accessibility and expand restrooms (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Replace door handles and locks (HS, MS, TF, PS)

QUESTION 2:

Safety and Security Enhancements

• Reconfigure community entrance for improved security (HS)

Facilities Needs

• Replace unsafe bleachers in main gym (HS)

• Correct faulty irrigation, drainage, and lighting issues on playing fields (HS) 

• Replace/repair pool filtration, exhaust, sound, flooring, and ceiling (HS)

• Replace classroom video displays (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Create small group learning spaces in learning commons (HS)

• Replace auditorium sound, microphones and control panels (HS)

• Replace sound system in multi-purpose room (PS)

• Replace Ward and main gym sound systems (HS, MS)

• Replace worn classroom furniture (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Create private showers in locker rooms (HS)

Public education impacts everyone. It results in opportunities for better careers, higher incomes, and increased property values. 

An approved referendum will extend the life of our schools, while continuing to provide quality teaching and learning environments that attract and retain students, staff, and families.

Minnesota’s School Building Bond Agricultural Credit (AG2School Credit) provides landowners tax relief on school bonds by providing a 70% reduction for their agricultural property. It was created to help reduce and equalize taxes for agricultural landowners in rural districts where, historically, it was difficult to pass bonds because of how agricultural landowners were taxed.  Since the bill was passed, rural districts have been able to pass bonds that improve the quality of Greater Minnesota Education.

Bob Indihar, Executive Director of the Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA) noted that the Ag2School Credit was a major priority and significant win for MREA and its districts when it passed with bipartisan support in 2017. Since the reduction of this funding would require an act of the House and Senate along with the Governor's signature, MREA believes it is unlikely to go away.  The State is well-positioned financially to continue supporting this and MREA believes that is solid legislation with strong support from both parties.

With routine maintenance, we fix what we can through our operating budget, but these essential facility needs don't go away. If the referendum is not approved, our School Board will continue reviewing options to address the identified needs since they cannot be addressed within the operating budget.

Ultimately, the District will have to go out for a bond to get these needs addressed to protect our students and strengthen our facilities in the future.  

No. The plans are CONCEPTS ONLY based on input from our staff, community task force and school board.  If the referendum is approved, a District design committee will be formed to collaborate with consultants on the final design

Absentee and early in-person voting begins Friday, December 26, 2025

• Chisago County
  313 N Main Street
  Center City, MN 55012

Election Day voting takes place on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 from 7am to 8pm

POLLING LOCATIONS FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:

Chisago Lakes Township Hall, 12400 316th St., Lindstrom, Minnesota  55405

• Precinct #1: This combined polling place services all territory in Independent School District No. 2144 located in Chisago City PA, Chisago City PB; Chisago City PC; Chisago Lakes Township/North; Chisago Lakes Township/South; Stacy W2 P2; Wyoming PA; Wyoming PB; Chisago County, Minnesota.

Lindstrom Community Center, 13292 Sylvan Ave., Lindstrom, Minnesota 55045

• Precinct #2: This combined polling place services all territory in Independent School District No. 2144 located in Center City; City of Lindstrom; City of Scandia; and Sunrise Township; Chisago County, Minnesota.

Taylors Falls City Hall, 637 First Street, Taylors Falls, Minnesota 55084

• Precinct #3: This combined polling place services all territory in Independent School District No. 2144 located in Amador Township; Franconia Township; City of Shafer; Shafer Township; City of Taylors Falls; Chisago County, Minnesota.

No. A new middle school (CLMS) typically costs over $70 million.  That's more than twice the amount it would cost to redesign the current middle school.  Redesigning CLMS will address the needs and save approximately $40 million.  

The essential needs (safety and security, building systems and structures, ADA compliance) are critical to these facilities. Postponing the improvements will only cost more later.

• Operating levy (supports daily expenses of operating schools as well as student learning): School Board approved in 2023, expires in 2033.  The continuance of this levy came as a tax neutral piece to our taxpayers.  Your taxes did not and will not increase with the extension of this levy.    

• Facilities bond to build the Wildcat Community Center and the Lakeside Elementary School: approved in 2017, payable over 20 years expiring in 2038. 

The bond question establishes a one-time increase for residents to their school property taxes that will continue to remain consistent for the life of the bond (21 years).  The proposed $55.605 million plan for both questions includes two bond issues that wrap around the district’s existing debt. You can determine the estimated tax impact on your specific property using the link provided here.

When approved, construction is expected to take place between 2027 and 2029, with the majority of work being completed over the summer months.

After the last referendum failed, we spent time listening—through surveys, discussions, and community feedback. Our community survey showed the strongest support for replacing end-of-life infrastructure, which is why those essential needs are included in Question 1.

However, the survey also revealed interest in additional site and program improvements that go beyond core facility needs. To give voters a true choice, those items were separated into Question 2.

Cost and tax implications were also key factors. Structuring the referendum as two questions ensures transparency in what each portion costs and how it affects taxes, while letting voters decide what scope of work they are supporting.

A bond referendum is an election that allows local residents to decide whether a school district should incur debt by issuing bonds to fund improvements to the district’s facilities. Approval of the referendum gives the district the ability to make large-scale improvements more efficiently than using the yearly maintenance budget. 

School districts issue bonds to obtain the funds necessary to pay for construction and professional services. The district pays back the bonds over a fixed period of years with revenue from property taxes and aid received from the state. In the last 12 years, over 240 Minnesota school districts have passed bond referenda to finance construction projects.

School Districts are the only government entity that has to receive voter approval to issue a bond.  Cities and Counties have the ability to raise taxes without voter approval.

Like a mortgage, bonds allow all necessary investments to be made immediately while paying off the cost over a set number of years. Because school construction costs and materials increase over time, it is less expensive to pay the interest on bonds than to complete construction one step at a time over multiple years.

The district facilitated a four year evaluation of our facility needs through local assessments, surveying stakeholders and community members, and determining what are most pressing needs are now and into the future.  We also conducted a comprehensive facility study to evaluate all aspects of our facilities, identify needs while determining priorities, and developing a plan to address these needs for the next 15 to 20 years. 

Through the entire assessment process as well as identifying the most pressing facility needs, we are able to address our most important needs for the life of the bond.  We would not have to go out to our taxpayers again for the next 15 to 20 years for facility needs.

Research is clear, strong schools equals strong communities.  In recent studies, there is a direct correlation between communities that have great schools equates to homeowners seeing higher values on their properties. Research finds good schools foster safer environments which include reductions in crime.  Finally, successful schools like Chisago Lakes bring revenue to the community in new families who buy local and stay local.  Our economy thrives when the schools succeed. 

If approved, the bond referendums would result in the following estimated monthly tax impact for a home valued at $400,000:

• Question 1 is approximately a $19.75/month increase

• Question 2 is approximately a $3.42/month increase (requires approval of Q1 in order to move forward)

Both questions combined would mean a $23.17/month increase over the current tax rate. This includes the cost of project building materials, the labor needed to perform this work and the necessary financing fees. You can determine the estimated tax impact on your specific property using the link provided here.

We need at least 6–9 months to run an effective, transparent community information campaign. After gathering data (community survey and feedback from May referendum) and re-evaluating the plan, it was clear there wasn’t enough time to meet all the requirements for a November election while still giving the community adequate time to learn, ask questions, and provide feedback.

Additionally, state timelines and approval deadlines didn’t align with a November ballot. Holding a special election ensures the district can follow all state processes correctly and allows the community to make an informed decision with the time and attention this important investment deserves.

Yes.  There will be significant savings in on-going utilities (electric and gas) by putting in new, energy-efficient windows, doors, HVAC systems, and air handlers.  Many of these investments will pay for themselves in one or two years, allowing existing resources to be used to cover other needs and costs that continue to rise.

To start, bonds are for buildings, levies are for learning. Below is a brief overview of each type.

• Bonds are used for long-term capital improvements such as building new schools, renovating old facilities, enhancing classroom and building security, and upgrading infrastructure (like heating systems, roofs, or technology installations). Bonds are paid back over time, much like a mortgage.

• Levies fund day-to-day operational expenses that aren’t fully covered by state funding. These include critical aspects like teachers’ salaries, school supplies, transportation, and extracurricular activities. Levies require voter approval and are typically collected over a set number of years to ensure we can meet our operational needs.

Both require voter approval.

The firm does not charge any upfront cost, all of the work is done at risk.  If and when the referendum passes, the firm will supply the professional services (design, construction management, and commissioning) at market rates (same as what we paid other consultants for the last referendum).

The School Board at the time chose to prioritize the Community Center and Lakeside. The majority of the HS needs were not taken care of in the last bond.  Because the HS facility is significantly bigger than the middle school, and has a lot more mechanical equipment, the cost is higher.

Question 2 would address:

• New lights at Molnar Field -- the plan is to reuse/paint the poles, however, the lighting is antiquated and in need of retrofitting/replacement.  

• Replace Varsity Baseball lights -- similar to Molnar Field, the lighting is antiquated and in need of retrofitting/replacement.  

• Add Varsity Softball lights – currently there are no lights, which is not in compliance with Title IX.  To rectify that and provide another facility that can be used by our community, we're adding the lights.

• MS Field needs will be reviewed for ways to address the needs long-term. 

The outdoor HS Stadium bleachers are not being replaced.  They are in great shape and will last for a while.  However, inside the High School, there are two sets of bleacher replacements included in Question 2:

• Ward Gym/Wood Gym (the original High School Gym).  These bleachers are almost 50 years old, and are no longer functional or ADA compliant.  After years of patches and repairs to get by, we need to fully replace them.  To save money, our goal is to replace one section only — as we have determined that is all we need for competition use. 

• High School Competition Gym is about 25 years old.  The bleachers are original to when the gym was built and have reached end-of-life status.  After decades of wear and tear, continuous efforts to patch and repair to get by, issues opening and closing the bleachers after competitions, the bleachers need to be replaced.  The new bleachers will also meet the current standards of ADA compliance.