By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - October 23, 2024

In less than two weeks, many Cook County residents will hit the polls or send in their ballots to vote in the 2024 election. In addition to selecting candidates for various local and national positions, voters will have an opportunity to vote yes or no to approve or reject a three-question ballot referendum for ISD 166 Cook County Schools. 

Breaking down how we got here

The school district reached this point through a process that began in 2023 and included working with the Minnesota Department of Education and other entities like ICS (a consultant that works with Minnesota schools to help improve physical spaces) to conduct assessments. The goal of these assessments was to determine the "quality and educational adequacy of the district’s school buildings to help prioritize what type of investments would best serve students and staff while using taxpayer dollars wisely," the district said in a June 2024 press release. Community listening sessions also took place in the fall of that year to gather additional input. 

In January 2024, the ISD 166 School Board approved hiring DSGW Architecture, a Minnesota firm specializing in "hand-crafting healthcare, education, commercial, and Indigenous architecture," according to its website. DSGW helped identify solutions for facility improvements in conjunction with ISD 166 and ICS.

The results from these assessments were presented at nine public community input sessions and in meetings with school staff, teachers, students, and others, all of whom had the opportunity to provide feedback on what items to prioritize. At a June 6th, 2024 meeting, the Cook County School Board unanimously voted to move forward with the referendum. 

The district has been actively sharing information about the process on local media platforms and through a designated website called VikingsVision.org, where you can find more about the entire process. 

Breaking down the needs identified through assessments, community Input

The need for improvements was identified through a comprehensive process involving staff, students, community members, ICS, DSGW Architecture, and guidelines set forth by the Minnesota Department of Education. Key areas identified for improvement include:

• Outdated and Undersized Classrooms: Many classrooms were built in 1952 and are too small for modern learning needs.
• Lack of Modern Amenities: The building lacks common areas for collaboration and a place for students to study, do homework.
• Aging Infrastructure: The HVAC system and water heaters are inefficient and nearing the end of their lifespan.
• Accessibility Issues: Many areas, including restrooms, locker rooms, bleachers, and playgrounds, are not ADA-compliant.
• Performing Arts Limitations: The theater's lighting and controls are outdated, posing potential malfunction risks.
• Athletic Facility Deficiencies: The district lacks a track, and current athletic facilities cannot accommodate growing sports participation.

Learn more about the comprehensive list of identified needs and MDE Assessment results here.

Breaking down the Ballot Questions and cost

If all three questions are approved, the VikingsVision website states that voters will "authorize funding to improve safety and security, educational adequacy, and complete deferred maintenance at the district’s PreK-12 building." The total cost of all three questions passed is $36.78 million, and the bonds will expire after 20 years or when they have been fully paid, whichever happens sooner.

What about the money from the levy that was renewed in 2022? 

In 2022, Cook County voters approved the renewal of a 10-year operating levy that allocates money to the school for its day-to-day operations. This vote renewed the levy, which was originally approved in 2016, and provided $800 per student to help continue to support their educational experience and excellence. Since it was a continuation, the tax impact on voters was the same as when it was approved six years prior. According to a letter sent out to Cook County residents that year, the levy supported smaller class sizes, elective class opportunities, and extracurricular activities. The letter went on to explain that failure to renew the operating levy would result in staff and program cuts. 

Chris Lindholm, ISD 166 Superintendent, told Boreal Community Media that one important thing to note is unlike the 2022 operating levy, all properties in the 166 District, including seasonal/recreational properties, have to pay tax for the referendum. Due to a bill passed when former Governor Jesse Ventura was in office, seasonal/recreational properties do not have to pay into an operating levy. (Lindholm shared that last year, Minnesota Senator Grant Hauschild brought forth a bill that would provide replacement aid. The session ended before it went any further, but he shared he wouldn't be surprised if it came up again in the 2024-2025 session.)

Additionally, the money from the operating levy goes towards the district's everyday expenses. According to Lindholm, that levy brings in approximately $350,000-$400,000 a year. The district's main expense is staff. "What would happen if that operating levy didn't pass? Well, $350,000-$400,000 is equivalent to 3-4 teachers, which we would unfortunately have to cut," he said. 

What happens if the district changes its mind about what the referendum funds should go towards?

In short, Lindholm said, "Well, that would be illegal." 

He went on to explain that a bond referendum is completely different from a levy. The money can only be used for previously specified construction and brick-and-mortar improvements.

The district is required to submit a proposal to the Minnesota Department of Education with plans for construction and use of the referendum money. MDE has to approve the plan, and the district must legally adhere to it. You can read the proposal sent to MDE here or other documents here. Additionally, the State of Minnesota will audit the district to make sure that the money was/is being spent on what was proposed and approved by the Department of Education. 

Tax impacts 

The district has calculated the tax impact for a homeowner with a home price of $400,000 (homeowners can use this calculator to determine the tax impacts based on their home price). 

Question One 

• Requests $24 million for upgraded spaces at the district’s PreK-12 school building, including additional common/flex space, classroom renovations, an additional gymnasium, improved accessibility, building security, and the completion of deferred maintenance. 
  
  
• Voters can choose to either approve (by voting "yes") or reject the proposal (by voting "no").
  
  
• Must pass in order for Questions 2 and 3 to pass. 
  
  
• Will cost a homeowner with a $400,000 home price $18 per month.

Question Two

• Requests $9 million for improvements to the school’s grounds, athletics, and arts spaces, including artificial turf for athletics fields, a running track, and updated theater equipment and seating.
  
  
• Voters can choose to either approve (by voting "yes") or reject the proposal (by voting "no").
  
  
• Will only pass if Question 1 passes. 
  
  
• Must pass (along with Question 1) in order for Question 3 to be approved.
  
  
• Will cost a homeowner with a $400,000 home price $8 per month.

Question Three 

• Requests $3.5 million to add an additional gymnasium station to support physical education, athletics, and community recreation. 
  
  
• Voters can choose to either approve (by voting "yes") or reject the proposal (by voting "no").
  
  
• Will only pass if Questions 1 and 2 are approved.
  
  
• Will cost a homeowner with a $400,000 home price $3 per month.

The total tax impact for a homeowner with a $400,000 home price is $29 a month. 

Adding new space and rising operational costs

Overall, if all three questions are approved, the district's physical footprint will be increased by 31,160 square feet. The district estimates that operating costs will increase by $30,400 annually. However, other parts of the referendum include replacing the old HVAC, AC, and other units with more energy-efficient ones and solar panels for electricity, according to the VikingsVision website. For example, Lindholm shared that LED lighting upgrades are expected to save approximately $13,000 in utilities annually. Additionally, proposed solar panels will offer additional energy offsets to help make up the cost. 

Tax relief passed by the Minnesota Legislature 

According to a press release issued by ISD 166 earlier this month, the Minnesota Legislature approved an increase on the Taconite Homestead Credit, which applies to all Cook County homeowners. The Taconite Homestead Credit "reduces property taxes for qualifying homeowners on the Iron Range, where taconite production companies pay a production tax in lieu of certain property taxes," according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

According to Cook County District 166, "Starting with taxes payable in 2025, the credit will increase from $289-315 per homeowner to as much as $515 per homeowner." To learn more about the Taconite Homestead Credit, visit the Cook County Auditor's Office website here.

"Athletics heavy"

Many are in support of the referendum, and others have questions or concerns about the amount of money taxpayers are being asked to pay and its use. (The VikingsVision website has a contact section where community members can reach out to ask questions or share comments about anything related to what's being proposed.) Additionally, volunteers have been participating in phone banks, which advocate for voting "yes" to approve each question on the ballot. 

One common piece of feedback is that the referendum is "athletics-heavy." When asked how he responds to this comment, Lindholm shared that 50-60% of ISD 166 students participate in some sort of recreational activity through the school. Data from the 2022 Minnesota Department of Education Student Survey conducted with Cook County 5th, 8th, 9th, and 11th graders confirmed that percentage. This past summer, over 150 kids were signed up for youth baseball, and this fall, over 100 students in grades 1-6 are signed up for fall sports. "There's significant demand for activities from our students and families. The district is responding to the demand," Lindholm said. 2022 data from the US Census Bureau found that "Children are engaging in more extracurricular activities like lessons and sports than they did more than two decades ago." 

"Educators and staff know that students who are engaged in activities do better in school. They have better achievement. They are more mentally and physically well compared to those who aren't in activities," he added. Data from scientific studies backs this up. According to a 2017 study, children and adolescents participating in extracurricular activities achieve higher academic performance and aspirations. In another study from the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, "organized activity participation was associated with higher than expected grades, school value (i.e., perception of the importance of school for the future), self-esteem, resiliency, and prosocial peers, and lower than expected risky behavior." 

Lack of space, amenities 

Lindholm shared that even though the demand for extracurricular activities is up, space throughout the school grounds is limited to facilitate all the activities. 

One common example that Lindholm shared refers to doubleheaders due to the remoteness of Cook County. On the day this conversation with Superintendent Lindholm took place, volleyball, and football home games were both taking place. Currently, ISD 166 only has two locker rooms (versus four that other schools have), so by 2:30 pm, the girl's volleyball team had to move all of their stuff out of their locker room so that the visiting football team could use it. 

Artificial turf field

Speaking of football, another frequent comment regarding the proposed athletic amenities is the change from real to artificial turf. Currently, the field consists of real grass, and, according to Lindholm, it sits unused 98% of the time so it doesn't get damaged. "Teams aren't able to practice on it," he said. 

One concern raised by community members is the potential for increased injuries on artificial turf. Generally, an artificial turf consists of a base of gravel, asphalt, or concrete but can also consist of sand, cork, and/or coconut fiber. In some cases, a shock-absorbing pad is installed, followed by the turf, which is then filled in with rubber or silica sand (sometimes a mix). Learn more about what goes into an artificial turf field here.

Numerous studies exist that show an increase in injuries on artificial turf, like one in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2023, which reviewed 53 articles published between 1972 and 2020. The overall findings showed an increase in ankle injuries on artificial turf (with knee and hip injuries remaining consistent between the two turfs). There are also studies, like the one published in eClinicalMedicine, that show a decrease in football-related injuries on artificial turf versus grass. 

Additionally, studies like the one published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine have found injury rates to be consistent between artificial and natural turf.

So, why the discrepancies? Partly, these findings are due to the different components one must take into account when looking at injuries and fields, including the weather and climate of an area; the player's overall wellness and physical condition; what shoes and other gear the player is wearing (there are different types of cleats for grass and artificial turf fields that help reduce risk of injury); contact with other players; and the age and overall maintenance of the field (a well-maintained turf reduces risk of injury).

Locally, Superintendent Lindholm shared that, in conversations with other superintendents who oversee districts with artificial fields, they haven't seen an increase in injuries anecdotally. As for the District 166 proposed field, Lindholm shared that if approved, the artificial turf would allow expansion of seasons because it can be plowed. "It could be used literally around the clock," he added. 

Nowhere to go 

Due to the limited space and lack of amenities, the district utilizes the Cook County YMCA gym for three sports seasons. According to Lindolm, even with this extra space, games, and practices must be staggered, which leads to an additional issue: the kids who have to wait until their start time have nowhere to go. As an example, Lindholm shared that sometimes, there may be a game going on in both the school and YMCA gyms until 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm. Once the games are over, practice can start for a different team/sport. "Where are kids from Grand Portage, the end of the Gunflint, or Schroeder supposed to go?" Lindholm asked. 

Commons area 

If approved, part of the expansion will involve removing walls from the current media center (built in the 1970s) and creating a central commons area. The commons area will be a new, safe space where students can stay after school to study and wait until their practice time, bus pickup, or for any other reason. The space will also act as an overflow eating space during the lunch period, when the cafeteria can get full. "Our school doesn’t have a central commons area. We learned in the public info sessions that the community wants a commons area. The only way to do that is to remove walls. This would be a safe space for students to study, do homework, etc., and would be in eyeshot of the main office," Lindholm said. 

Anishinaabe Academic Center and Ojibwe Learning Space

Part of this redesign will include a new Anishinaabe Academic Center and Ojibwe Learning Space, which will replace the current area and move it into a more prominent area of the main entryway and commons area. According to the VikingsVision website, "The future design would consist of learning spaces which would provide a meaningful space for gatherings, ceremony, and student learning focusing on environmental stewardship and culture."

Security upgrades 

Providing a safe, common space for students to go between school and activities or home isn't the only security component of the referendum. Many items are proposed; however, some community members have shared that it's not clear what this entails. When asked, Lindholm shared more details about what exactly will be included if the referendum is approved. 

One main change will be a more secure entrance where staff can visually monitor and control the entryway. Some have criticized the mock-up video and images which show the entryway designed with a lot of glass. However, Lindholm shared that those are simply "what could be," as no actual designs have been created. "We've put together the goals and itemized list by using trend data, cost of construction, and community feedback/assessments to come up with the dollar amount necessary to do the project. There's been no designs, no bids," he said. 

In addition to a more secure entryway, items include an upgraded security system (Lindholm shared the current one is old), a new door monitoring system that will detect if a door is left ajar or not secured, a new PA and bell system ("If you need to get the word out about something quickly, you need a quality PA system," he said), alarm lights and controls, and a lockdown system which would include a push-button option to lock all building doors. 

One last security measure proposed is the option of having a separate entrance for visiting athletic teams. Currently, visiting teams (and their friends, family, etc.) have to walk through the entire school building to get to the gym, which can pose a security risk. 

The arts 

While some of the referendum's focus is on athletics, if it passes, those involved in the arts will also have an opportunity to experience upgraded amenities. 

The Arrowhead Center for the Arts (ACA) was built in the late 1990s and currently uses outdated technology, which poses a risk of malfunction. In the referendum proposal, the ACA would install a catwalk system, update lighting and other technology, and replace some of the lower-level seating to allow for different stage configurations. The ACA is used not only by the school and the Grand Marais Playhouse, but also can be rented by local organizations for a variety of events, presentations, or film showings. 

Cultivating pride in students and beyond

In 2022, District 166 developed a strategic plan to help define its mission and direction. One component that came out of this plan was to create a space that "cultivates pride and prepares students for success." When asked why it was important to create a place that students are proud of, Lindholm responded with: "There's a saying, I don’t remember what you taught me, but I remember how you made me feel [speaking from a student's point of view]. Cultivating a sense of pride in our students results in better social achievement and builds a really good, healthy, positive school spirit that helps kids enjoy the school experience. If you don’t have that, students don’t enjoy the experience, which can lead to behavioral problems."

And while many voters in Cook County don't have children in the district or any of the area schools, a sense of pride and having a strong school system "Attract families, businesses, and industries, which can stimulate economic growth in a community and create job opportunities. Schools often serve as a hub for community education and events, fostering a sense of belonging among residents. New investments - or a lack of them - in schools and their facilities can significantly influence these impacts of schools within our communities," according to the district.
 

What if the referendum doesn't pass? 

Another common question asked about the referendum is what happens if it doesn't pass. According to the FAQs on the VikingsVision website, "If voters reject the ballot questions, our district will need to defer the proposed improvements until a later date. Future investments are likely to face higher construction costs, further pushing out the timeline for today’s students, staff, and community members to benefit from improvements to our facilities. Only investments detailed by the approved questions will be completed. Funds will be used exclusively to complete approved projects and cannot be redirected to pay for improvements not explicitly approved by voters."

What happens if the referendum passes all three questions?

Lindholm shared that referendums are typically a three-year process. The first year is spent on getting it to pass, and the next two years, if it passes, are spent on construction. Due to our remote location in Cook County (and our climate), construction may be "Two full summers, two full school years, at most, three summers," according to Lindholm. Many components can be completed during the school year, including working with architects and consultants, adding square footage for a new space, etc. However, work on already existing spaces can only be done in the summer because it’s intrusive to learning. 

To see a visual map of proposed additions, improvements, and upgrades and which question they fall into, click here. 

To see how the three questions will appear on a sample ballot, click here.

For more information on the referendum, visit the VikingsVison website here.

For information about voting in Cook County, click here.