The East Grand Forks School District has a three-question referendum for voters to decide whether to create an operational levy and provide capital funding for projects at New Heights Elementary, South Point Elementary School, and Central Middle School.
Superintendent Kevin Grover spoke with KROX about the referendum, which includes three questions:
- The school board of the Independent School District No. 595 (East Grand Forks) has proposed to increase its general education revenue by $300 per pupil. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would be applicable for ten years, beginning with taxes payable in 2027, and increase each year by the rate of inflation, beginning with taxes payable in 2028, unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law. Shall the increase in the revenue proposed by the school board of Independent School District No. 595 be approved?
- Shall the school board of the Independent School District No. 595 (East Grand Forks) also be authorized to issue its general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $26,400,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including safety and security improvements to building entrances, installation of updated fire alarm systems, door access and building communication systems, the construction and installation of HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems, and updating crosswalks and other ADA accessibility improvements?
- If School District Question 2 is approved, shall the school board of Independent School District No. 595 (East Grand Forks) also be authorized to issue its general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $10,900,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the construction and equipping of an early childhood addition to the New Heights Elementary School?
Most of East Grand Forks’ facilities have not received upgrades since they were built in 1998, and Grover knows that these improvements are necessary to ensure the safety of students and faculty in the school buildings and provide suitable accommodations for them while they are on school grounds. “On the community survey that part of this facility assessment, they had an independent group survey the community, and safety and security ranked number one as what people ranked for that they would support the most, and so yes, getting up to date, safe, and secure entrances is important.”
Grover has been working to address these concerns since he became superintendent in July 2024, and the process has included input from EGF district staff and community members through surveys and sessions to determine which improvements are top priorities and how much funding would be needed to implement them. “I’m just starting my third year, and when I first came, we started the process not long after being here, getting a facility assessment done, and it just takes time,” Grover explained. “It took a year or so to kind of get rolling. Yeah, they’ve been thinking about it, been looking at it, but it’s hard to ask for money ahead of time, you know, it’s just most of the time, voters wouldn’t support that either.”
Currently, East Grand Forks ISD #595 does not have an operating levy, as they have not previously needed one. However, Grover understands that costs have gone up and that these schools need proper maintenance. Grover has made sure to inform residents that if all three referendum measures are passed, the average cost to taxpayers would increase by $434 per year, or $37 per month. Grover understands that tax increases are not typical for ISD 595, but the district has to act now before costs rise further over the next few years. “If all three are passed, we still would rank, this is school taxes, fourth out of nine districts in our area, so we’re not jumping to the top or asking for any more than we need to be honest,” he said. “And so, yeah, no one wants taxes raised, whether it’s school, city, or county, but we need some help. It’s not something we’re going to be able to do on our own.”
Currently, the early childhood program at East Grand Forks is divided amongst the two elementary schools and the middle school, and, if approved, the third referendum question would provide the funding necessary to construct the addition that would put all the early childhood classes together under one roof and open up some space at the other three schools for additional growth in future years. “Preschool’s coming in slow but sure. If we had fifth grade spread between three buildings. I don’t think people would accept that. They deserve to be with their peers and the staff. It’s easier if you have questions or want to work collaboratively with other preschool staff. They’re in three different buildings now. It’s easier on transportation to have one stop instead of having a preschool bus for in town. They go to three different buildings, so there’s some efficiencies, but the biggest piece is it’s what’s right for kids and right for the educational process to be housed in one place.”
Grover has ensured that voters have opportunities to ask questions about the referendum and receive additional information at several town hall meetings ahead of the election, including a Facebook Live town hall on Monday, October 19, at 6:00 p.m. In addition to the town halls, he has remained available to the public to answer questions and ensure they have accurate information before they cast their ballots. “That is the biggest ask that people at least be informed of what we’re asking and kind of why we’re asking for it,” said Grover. “We’re not asking for anything in addition. There’s a lot more, I’m going to call them wants, or things that would be nice that aren’t included, but there are things we can work on as time goes on. We do put money in year in and year out. We’ve done roofs, we’ve done the boilers, we’re fixing things, but we just don’t have enough to keep up right now, and that’s why it’s time.”
The general election is November 3, but residents can vote early at the Polk County Government Center, located at 612 N. Broadway in Crookston.
