STAPLES, Minn (KWAD) – Voters in the Staples-Motley School District will be asked to decide on a single-question bond referendum this spring, as district leaders say decades-old facilities are increasingly limiting student learning, safety, and career preparation.
The referendum, scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, seeks approval for a $42.5 million investment aimed at updating the district’s elementary and middle/high school buildings. District officials say the proposal is the result of months of planning, community input, and facility assessments. The average building in the Staples-Motley School District is more than 50 years old, with some areas dating back to the 1930s. While maintenance staff and teachers have adapted to the challenges, administrators say the age of the facilities makes it harder to meet today’s educational standards.
“Our learning spaces simply weren’t designed for modern curriculum or the careers students are preparing for today,” district leaders say. Needs have grown in areas such as infrastructure repair, safety and security, accessibility, and hands-on learning space.
If approved, the referendum would make improvements in six major areas: enhanced safety, security, and accessibility, expanded and improved Career and Technical Education, updated classrooms for modern learning, repaired and upgraded core building systems, renovated auditorium facilities, and better grade alignment, including moving fifth grade back to the elementary school. The plan would also realign interior classrooms into media centers, small-group learning spaces, and commons areas, while adding new CTE, CNA, and Family and Consumer Science spaces with industry-standard equipment.
One of the largest focus areas of the referendum is Career and Technical Education (CTE). Staples-Motley offers popular programs in welding, woodworking, automotive technology, machining, meat cutting, and more — courses that allow students to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. However, space and equipment limitations restrict what can be taught.
“Most of the community does not realize that our machine shop is so small and outdated that, for many years, it has not functionally existed as a modern shop,” said Kris Mumm, a Career and Technical Education teacher. “Without updated equipment and expanded space, it is impossible to teach students the machining, fabrication, and precision-measurement skills that local employers expect.”
Currently, multiple programs share a single room, creating safety concerns, limited storage, and reliance on donated or salvaged equipment that does not match industry standards.
District officials say classroom design has also changed dramatically since the buildings were constructed. Modern education emphasizes collaboration, technology use, and flexible learning — yet many classrooms, particularly inside the middle/high school, are under 800 square feet, lack natural light, and have limited power outlets and shared workspaces. The Minnesota Department of Education recommends classrooms between 850 and 950 square feet, with daylight, storage, and flexible furniture.
“Schools are not just buildings — they are places where students develop the skills, confidence, and knowledge needed to become productive, responsible members of society,” said Michelle Karr, an elementary Title I teacher. “When learning environments are outdated or under-resourced, it limits what educators can provide and what students can achieve.”
Because the buildings predate modern security design, entrances are not structured to control visitor access. The plan proposes secure entryways with required check-in procedures, improved sightlines, and upgraded security equipment, including cameras, locks, and exterior doors. Pickup and drop-off areas would also be redesigned to reduce congestion and improve student safety. Accessibility upgrades are included as well, with restroom renovations to meet ADA requirements and improved access to key areas of both schools.
Much of the district’s core infrastructure such as roofs, HVAC systems, flooring, windows, and exterior brick dates back decades. While repairs have kept systems functioning, officials say costs and risks continue to rise each year. The plan also addresses major community spaces, including the Centennial Auditorium, which hosts more than 4,000 guests annually. Aging sound systems, rigging, curtains, and limited stage accessibility currently restrict performances and community use.
Outdoor athletic facilities are also part of the proposal. The track is worn and no longer hosts home meets due to safety concerns, while football field lighting relies on outdated bulbs mounted on aging wooden poles. Bleachers, press boxes, locker rooms, and irrigation systems would also be updated.
If voters approve the referendum, design and permitting would begin in May, with construction bids expected in early 2027. Work would be phased to minimize disruption, with completion targeted for August 2029. District officials emphasize that the plan is tax-neutral, meaning the school tax rate would not increase. As older debt is paid off, new debt would replace it at roughly the same rate. State law, however, requires the ballot to state that a “yes” vote authorizes a tax increase, even when the tax rate itself does not change.
If the referendum does not pass, district leaders say aging facilities will remain in place, repairs will continue to accumulate, and opportunities for expanded career training and safety upgrades will be delayed.
“Investing in updated facilities is not just an investment in our school — it is an investment in the economic vitality and future of our entire community,” Mumm said.
Voters can cast ballots by mail, early in person, or in person on Election Day. More information on the Referendum Bond can be found here.