Red Lake School seeks bonds

The Red Lake School District faces a unique problem.

Because it lies completely within a reservation, the land isn’t available for property taxes that fund schools. That leaves the district in need of state funding for projects like renovations.

This was explained to the House Education Finance Committee Feb. 14 when Rep. David Hancock (R-Bemidji) offered two bonding bills that would benefit the district.

HF2109 would provide nearly $8 million to demolish the district’s original elementary school. The money would also fund building a district and student services area, media center and technology labs, locker rooms and support areas.

HF1264 would appropriate $5.78 million to renovate the high school and middle school kitchen and cafeteria. Hancock said the facilities, which were built in the early 1960s, are too small to accommodate students.

Superintendent Steve Wymore said the district faces “overwhelming” challenges in raising funds on its own. In addition to its lack of taxable land, its free and reduced meal rate for students is at 90 percent. Because of its financial challenges, the district is unlikely to be able to pay back the state funding proposed in the bill, which is in the form of a loan. This means the money would effectively amount to a grant for the school district. Since 1992, the district has received four capital loans from the state for school construction projects.

Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville) spoke in support of the bill, saying, “It should be our top priority in this committee.”

Both bills were laid over for possible recommendation for bonding bill inclusion.

Sen. Rod Skoe (DFL-Clearbrook) sponsors the companion bills, SF1697 and SF825. Both await action by the Senate Capital Investment Committee.