GFW Review and Comment from the Minnesota Department of Education

Review and Comment from the Minnesota Department

of Education

Description of Proposed School Construction Project

GFW Public School District, ISD #2365-01, is proposing a two-question referendum on November 3, 2026. The first ballot question would authorize a capital projects levy tax rate of 1.53595% on the district’s net tax capacity (NTC). The second ballot question would authorize $3.2 million in bonding authority to fund the demolition of the vacant elementary school in Gibbon and the vacant middle/high school in Winthrop.

If capital project levy is approved by voters, the district would levy $400,000, beginning with the Payable 2027 levy, for a ten-year period. The annual levy amount in the nine subsequent years would be computed by multiplying 1.53595% times the preceding year’s NTC and would be authorized for annual certification by the school board. The estimated total cost of the capital projects to be funded over the ten-year period is $4 million.

The proceeds of the capital project levy would provide funds for: school buses and transportation vehicles, the acquisition and maintenance of technology hardware, software, personnel and instructional materials.

The new PK-12 facility in Gibbon is now the district’s only active attendance center. The district currently has approximately 550 students enrolled in K-12 programming and is projecting a decline in enrollment to just under 500 students over the next five years.

The proposed expenditures appear to be in the long-term interest of the school district. In addition, the school board is aware that capital projects levy proceeds are only authorized to fund the capital projects proposed in the review and comment submission and eligible for funding under Minnesota Statutes, section 126C.10, subdivision 14.

Review and Comment Statement

Based on the department’s analysis of the school district’s required documentation and other pertinent information from sources of the Minnesota Department of Education, the Commissioner of Education provides a positive review and comment.

Additional Information is Available

Persons desiring additional information regarding this proposal should contact the school district superintendent’s office.

Willie L. Jett II

Commissioner

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