Minnesota’s last one-room school seeks dollars to expand

Minnesota had more than 8,000 school districts during the 1930’s. Many were one-room schools.

Now only one one-room school remains. But it may soon get bigger – and better.

The House Capital Investment Committee heard a bonding proposal Wednesday to fund repairs and expansion of Northwest Angle School, located in the township of Angle Inlet, which is separated from the rest of the state by Lake of the Woods.

To reach the area by land, travelers must first cross into Canada, then back into the United States shortly before arrival.

Thirteen children, spanning kindergarten through sixth grade, now attend the school, which Rep. Matt Grossell (R-Clearbrook) told the committee is the northernmost elementary school in the lower 48 states.

The bill he sponsors, HF1089, seeks $509,000 in bond proceeds for the Warroad School District to renovate the existing facility and add to it. The needed repairs include fixes to a leaking roof that requires students to keep buckets on-hand in case of rain, Grossell said.

The money would also be used to build an addition to the school that would include bathrooms and a play space where children could exercise during bad weather.

The committee took no action, but members were already familiar with the school from a bonding tour of the area they took last year.

“I went to a one-room school from 1955 to 1960 and I’m not kidding you, that school was in a whole lot better shape than the pictures we saw up there this summer,” Rep. Dale Lueck (R-Aitkin) said. 

Grossell said students who travel to school in Warroad, as older kids must do, face a 90-minute drive each way, along with four border crossings.

Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City), who chairs the committee, said Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius called him last spring asking for his help in funding the school’s improvements.

“It’s a very unique situation and a very difficult situation for those kids,” Urdahl said. “I agree we need to do something.”

The companion, SF1612, is sponsored by Sen. Paul Utke (R-Park Rapids) and awaits action by the Senate Capital Investment Committee.