Item 4.1 2026 Referendum Public Presentation9/14/2026
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ISD 728 Community Survey:
Facilities Proposals
How Did We Get to These Proposals?
FACILITIES DISCUSSION HISTORY
Rapid Enrollment Growth
While 56% of MN districts have fewer students,
ISD 728 enrollment grew by over 12%in 10 years,
making us the 2nd fastest-growing district in the
state.
Capacity Pressure
This trend is projected to continue. Most growth will
impact the south side of the District, where
schools are already at or above capacity.
Elk River
27,606
Otsego
23,875
Rogers
14,493
Zimmerman
6,772
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A Call for Collaborative Community Action
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROCESS
How We Got Here: A History of Collaboration
ISD 728 has a long-standing history of partnering with the
community to responsibly plan for facility needs. Rather than
relying on short-term fixes, the district shifted toward long-term
planning to bring fiscal predictability to taxpayers and ensure ten
years of stability for our students.
A Decade of Preparation
Following ten years of planning, including facilities committees in 2016,
2019, and 2023, the school board launched a Community Facilities Task
Force in 2025 to deliver recommendations to the ISD 728 School Board.
6,400+ Community Voices
A district-wide School Perceptions Survey during the 2025-2026 school
year gathered extensive feedback to shape the proposals.
Adjusted & Finalized Plan
Driven by community input, the administration adjusted the initial
proposal to lower taxpayer impact, securing our schools for the next
decade.
SOLUTIONS
2026 REFERENDUM
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Rogers HS
1,962
Elk River HS
1,601
Zimmerman HS
685
2003 RHS and
ZHS open
and all HSs
serve grades
9-12
ProjectedActual Enrollment
100%
Projected Southern School Capacity Utilization
25-26 30-31 35-36
Elementary Middle School High School
Historic & Projected High School Enrollment and
Projected Southern School Capacity Utilization
10-YEAR FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS
Solution Details
Strategic Location
To be built on the owned western Otsego
parcel of land, encompassing 174 acres to
support extensive modern campus facilities.
Core Standards
Designed to align with our 2019 ISD 728 Core
Standards for high schools, including athletic
fields, stadium, and auditoriums.
HIGH SCHOOL SOLUTION
10-YEAR FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS
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Future-Ready Infrastructure
By building the "core" to 1,900-student standards
now, we ensure future growth is seamlessly
managed without overhauling campus
infrastructure.
Comprehensive High School
Despite initial capacity, this site features full, built-
out amenities: a performing arts auditorium,
gymnasiums, and outdoor athletic complexes
designed to serve the future 1,900 enrollment
reducing the need for expansion of those locations
in the future.
Optimized & Cost-Effective
Completing the core structure now avoids
exponential future construction costs and minimizes
student disruption of later additions.
Rogers High
School
Capacity = 1,887
New Otsego
High School
Capacity = 1,500
1,500 Student Capacity High School &
1,900 Infrastructure Building
10-YEAR FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS
Elementary
●Rogers Elem.
●Hassan Elem.
●Otsego Elem.
●Prairie View
Middle
●Rogers MS
●Prairie View
MS
High School
●Rogers HS
Projected Southern School Capacity
Utilization
Projected Southern School Capacity
Utilization
100%
25-26 30-31 35-36
Elementary Middle School High School
Comparing Enrollment to Building Student
Capacities
SOUTHERN SCHOOLS ENROLLMENT& PROJECTIONS
Projected Southern School Capacity Utilization
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Solution Details
New Otsego E-8 School
Located on 38 acres of District-owned land in
eastern Otsego. Designed as a transitional build
to flexibly evolve into a Middle or Elementary
School in the future as enrollment trends justify.
Hassan Elem. Addition
Supports RES and HES growth and stable
boundaries, preserving Early Childhood
programming in Rogers. Without referendum
support, this would require a more taxpayer-
impactful lease levy.
E-8 SOLUTION
10-YEAR FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS
Solution Details
Facility Focus
●New construction on the site of the current
Ivan Sand campus.
●Accomplishes compliance regulations for
Setting IV Special Education learners.
●Designed appropriately to address the
needs of all learners.
Programs Offered (K-12+)
●Federal Setting IV behavior programs
(currently at Meadowvale & Vandenberge)
●Federal Setting IV communicative disorders
programs (currently in traditional schools)
●18-22-year-old transition programs (currently
in COMPASS or HS)
●Alternative Learning Center (ALC) program
EDUCATION CENTER
10-YEAR FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS
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CTE IMPROVEMENTS
10-YEAR FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS
Solution Details
ERHS Improvements
Programming and space
improvements designed
specifically for the Elk River
High School CTE spaces.
RHS & ZMHS
Additions
Building additions at Rogers
High School and Zimmerman
Middle/High School to expand
CTE programming capacity.
District Excellence
Ensures CTE programming
continues to provide high-
caliber, hands-on training and
student career preparation.
CTE IMPROVEMENTS
10-YEAR FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS
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Solution Details
Standardized
Safety
Aligns Zimmerman MHS
and Rogers MS with
current District-wide
security and safety
infrastructure.
Verified Entry
Point
Creates a mandatory
check-in point to prevent
visitor access to students
until fully vetted.
Office Relocation
Moves administrative
offices to the building's
edge, keeping the public
out of hallways.
Visitor Integration
Modernizes check-in using
integrated technology to
track and authorize all
building guests.
SAFETY UPDATES
10-YEAR FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS
Your Schools -Your Communities -Your Vote
Community Improvements: OTSEGO
NEW SPACES FOR LEARNING, GROWING
• Two new buildings will meet the needs of one of the state’s fastest-
growing communities, along with stability for the future.
• Otsego High School gives the city a new identity
• A high school solution with the future in mind, built for 1,500 students
but prepared to handle 30 percent growth
• An E-8 solution that has already proven effective in ISD 728 for
transition and future flexibility
• A future where Otsego kids are educated at community schools in
Wright County’s largest city
• Top tier activities and athletics thanks to partnerships with Rogers
High School
• Purposeful and appropriate programming spaces for Otsego area
students enrolled in Setting IV and Alternative Learning district
programming
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SOLUTIONS
2026 REFERENDUM
The Historical Cycle
Since 2000, our district communities
have faced 14 referendum decisions,
leading to a constant cycle of votes.
13 Votes In the first 14 years
of the century (2000-2014)
Just 1 Vote Since 2014,
reflecting a massive strategic shift
A Major Shift in Operation
In 2019, our communities told us they wanted an
end to the 'every year or two' cycle of asks. We
listened.
We built the 2019 referendum to last 7 to 10 years.
We are committed to planning ahead, not just for
next year, but for the next generation.
HISTORY
PUBLIC FUNDING
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The Investment
Local property owners would see a
steady, predictable tax footprint based
directly on their home's market value. For
an average residential homestead valued
at $400,000, the estimated property tax
investment breaks down to:
$35 / month
$419 / year
A 'YES' Vote
Invests $35 a month to secure our 10-year facility
plan, achieve the community-developed
recommendations, protect current class sizes, and
fully fund the $350 million bond and $9 million
operating levy without needing to request additional
construction funds until at least 2036.
A 'NO' Vote
Saves this monthly amount today, but means the
community choice transitions immediately to
managing the non-monetary costs of overcrowded
schools, rising class sizes, and a total district-wide
boundary changes.
ACTUALLY COST?
WHAT WILL THIS
IMPACT
FUNDING SUPPORT
Project
New Otsego
High School
Recommendation
$195
million
Project
Other Facility
Projects
Recommendation
$155
million
Project
Capital Projects
Levy
Recommendation
$9 million
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Recommendation
$350 million bond + $9 million
operatingTotal Estimated Cost
Estimated Property Tax IncreaseEstimated Market
ValueType of Property
MonthlyAnnual
$15$184$200,000
Residential
Homestead
$25$302$300,000
$30$360$350,000
$35$419$400,000
$40$478$450,000
$45$536$500,000
$50$605$550,000
$56$672$600,000
$67$807$700,000
$78$941$800,000
$101$1,210$1,000,000
IMPACT
FUNDING SUPPORT
Recommendation
$350 million bond + $9 million
operatingTotal Estimated Cost
Estimated Property Tax IncreaseEstimated Market
ValueType of Property
MonthlyAnnual
$56$672$500,000Residential Non-
Homestead
Multi-Unit and
Apartments
$112$1,345$1,000,000
$224$2,690$2,000,000
$336$4,035$3,000,000
$560$6,724$5,000,000
$83$995$500,000
Commercial/
Industrial
$173$2,071$1,000,000
$352$4,223$2,000,000
$890$10,678$5,000,000
IMPACT
FUNDING SUPPORT
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IMPACT
FUNDING SUPPORT
www.isd728.org/728Strong
DATES
KEY
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www.ISD728.org/728Strong
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Your Schools -Your Communities -Your Vote
Referendum Overview
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