Long winters and late springs in Minnesota highlight the need for more indoor space for activities in the community. Spring sports have started, but the weather has prevented outdoor practices, and the demand for gym space far exceeds the available supply.   In the winter, high school gyms are in use until 9:00 p.m. nearly every evening which in turn makes community use during the Winter months extremely limited.  Across the South Suburban Conference and across the Twin Cites Metro Area, additional indoor gym space and Activity Centers are the norm and in District 196 we are woefully behind in this area,

This need for more indoor activity space would be addressed in the two-question bond referendum special election in District 196. Both referendum questions would address facility and equipment needs in our schools in the areas of safety and security, space for growth, and providing a consistent experience across the district. If approved, Question 2 would provide activity center space at each of the four comprehensive high schools in the district. This would provide opportunities for our programs to use this new space and would help ease demands for existing space that we rely on to offer our programs.  This would definitely result in much more availability for community use of District 196 facilities.

Passage of Question 2 is contingent on passage of Question 1. This means that for Question 2 to be approved, it must receive a majority yes votes AND Question 1 must be approved by receiving a majority yes votes. The combined cost per month for both questions would be less than $20 per month on the average-value home in the district.

Election day is Tuesday, May 9, but eligible voters in District 196 can already vote on the bond referendum absentee in person or by mail. In-person absentee voting is available Monday through Friday at the District Office in Rosemount, the Dakota County Administration Center in Hastings, and the county’s Western Service Center in Apple Valley.

For more information on what improvements are included in both questions and how you can vote, go to www.District196.org/Bond.

Matt Percival
Eastview High School
Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Athletics