Dear GFW School Community,
At GFW Public Schools, we are committed to planning responsibly for the future while continuing to provide students with the safe, high-quality educational experience they deserve.
Over the past several years, our district has faced many of the same challenges affecting schools across Minnesota, including rising inflation, increasing operational costs, declining enrollment and a growing number of partially funded and unfunded state mandates. Despite these challenges, we have worked diligently to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, reducing more than $850,000 in expenditures over the last two fiscal years.
As we look ahead, our School Board has approved two referendum questions that will allow voters to determine how we address critical district needs while positioning us for long-term success.
The first question asks voters to consider a Capital Projects Levy that would provide approximately $400,000 annually for 10 years to support essential district needs in three critical areas:
Transportation - Maintaining safe and reliable buses and vehicles for students
Technology - Replacing aging student devices and maintaining software that keeps our students safe physically and digitally
Curriculum - Providing updated educational materials and learning resources that support student achievement
Additionally, a second question would authorize funding for the demolition of district-owned buildings that no longer serve our instructional needs. This question would only be considered if the first question is approved.
As our enrollment has declined and district operations have been consolidated, we continue to maintain buildings that are no longer needed for student learning. Even vacant buildings require basic utilities, insurance, inspections, grounds maintenance, and ongoing upkeep. These costs divert our valuable funding away from classrooms and educational opportunities. This proposal reflects a simple commitment: we want to invest our resources in students, teachers, and learning - not empty buildings.
We understand that community members may have questions about these proposals, their purpose, and their impact. To help provide transparent and accurate information, we have created a dedicated referendum webpage that includes:
Detailed information about both questions
Frequently asked questions
Tax impact estimates
Information about transportation, technology, curriculum, and facility needs
Voter information and election resources
I encourage all residents to learn more, review the information carefully, and make an informed decision.
For additional information, please visit our referendum webpage at www.gfwschools.org/election.
Thank you for your continued support of GFW Public Schools and the students we serve.
Sincerely,
Allen Berg
Superintendent of Schools