November 2026 Election

Referendum 2026

referendum banner

VOTING MATTERS

At West Central Area School District, we help students excel and become leaders in our community. But over the past several years, declining enrollment and increasing costs for building repairs have challenged our ability to make the best use of our resources for students. 

We have a responsibility to our students and taxpayers to manage our school buildings efficiently and provide the best value to our community. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, residents will consider a comprehensive plan to ensure the long-term educational and financial health of WCA School District by closing the North and South Elementary Schools and transforming the Secondary School into a building for all students.


Find Your Polling Place

We have a responsibility to our students and taxpayers

ATTEND A COMMUNITY MEETING 

ALL MEETINGS @ 7:00PM

  • Monday, Sept. 14 -  Hoffman Community Center

  • Monday, Sept. 21 – Wendell Community Center

  • Wednesday, Oct. 7 – WCA Secondary School (Barrett)

  • Monday, Oct. 12 – North Elementary School (Elbow Lake)

  • Monday, Oct. 26 – South Elementary School (Kensington)

WHY NOW? 

Like many rural areas in Minnesota, WCA Schools have fewer students today than in past decades. Class sizes, staffing, and classroom resources have adjusted over time, but our school buildings have remained largely unchanged. 

The North and South Elementary Schools are particularly impacted. Both schools have several classrooms that are entirely unused or have been repurposed for storage, and their old age has accelerated maintenance costs.

old age has accelerated maintenance costs.

Projected Maintenance Over the Coming Decade

side of building

  • $12.1 Million - North Elementary 

  • $6.3 Million - South Elementary 

  • $2.1 Million - Secondary School 

These projected costs are only for basic maintenance needs, which means they do not include improvements to classrooms.

Current challenges at the current elementary school buildings include: 

  • Non-functioning air handling units and ventilation. 

  • Key spaces do not meet accessibility requirements - including bathrooms, playgrounds, entryways, and more. 

  • Obsolete boilers that have exceeded their service life. 

  • Severe scale buildup in pipes and plumbing fixtures. 

  • Electrical receptacles are past their usable life and no longer
    meet code requirements.  

  • Roofing that is tenting, leaking, or no longer covered by warranty.  

  • Locker rooms that are no longer used. 

  • Doors, windows, and entryways that do not meet today’s
    security standards.

Negatively Impacts Learning and Tax Dollars

kids in classroom

The three-school model also negatively impacts learning and prevents tax dollars from being used most effectively:

  • Difficult Staff Collaboration: Being split between two buildings prevents staff from collaboratively addressing challenges and ensuring curriculum is aligned among all students. 

  • Unused Space: Declining enrollment has created over 64,785 square feet of unused space at the elementary schools that still requires maintenance, temperature control, and insurance. 

  • Food Preparation: Each building has its own food storage, preparation, serving areas, and kitchen staff. 

  • Busing: Buses stop for dropoff and pickup at multiple schools each day, which requires additional mileage and idling time. This makes rides longer for students and less fuel efficient.

REFERENDUM GOALS

  • Expand learning opportunities

     by making resources for grades 5-12 students accessible for PreK-4 students and staff as well.

  • Improve collaboration

    and resources for elementary staff.

  • Right-size school buildings

    by eliminating 64,785 SF of unneeded space and creating classrooms that are significantly more energy efficient.

  • Maximize the efficiency

    of busing, food service, and maintenance staff.

  • Make the transition to middle school easier

    for young students.

  • Create mentorship and buddy opportunities

    between older and younger students.

DEFICIENCIES

THE REFERENDUM PLAN

If the referendum is approved, West Central Area Schools will unify into a single PreK-12 building. North and South Elementary will close, and the Secondary School building will be expanded on the north side to accommodate students in preschool through fourth grade. The addition will include:  

  • 16 classrooms to support preK-4 and early learning programs 

  • A separate main entrance and reception area 

  • Breakout and areas for 1-on-1 or small-group learning 

  • Cafeteria space 

  • A gymnasium that includes a competition sized court with space for spectators 

Select remodeling to existing spaces at the Secondary School will be completed to help accommodate the addition of the PreK-4 grades, strengthen trade and agricultural programs for older students, and support physical education. 

The current weights and conditioning space will be converted into additional space for the wrestling program. A small addition will be built to provide new weights and conditioning space for physical education classes, athletics, and community use, as well as externally accessible restrooms for activities and events.


  • Grounds Improvements

    • Expanded parking 

    • Resurface current track for Track & Field use 

    • Relocate softball fields 

    • Elementary playground

  • Heavy Remodeling

    • Science labs 

    • Addition of a dedicated serving kitchen for elementary students  

    • Gymnasium showers (to meet accessibility codes)

  • Light Remodeling

    • Shop spaces (welding, HVAC, plumbing, construction, etc.)  

    • Health classroom 

    • Wrestling room 

    • Special Education classrooms 

    • Flooring replacement in hallways of the classroom wings 

    • Family/Consumer Sciences classroom 

    • Storage improvement for meat cutting classroom

WCA Site Plan
WCA Site Plans

A SINGLE SITE: THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR WCA SCHOOLS

  • Construction Costs

    • $33.8 Million: Cost to transition to a single site (referendum plan) 

    • $44.3 Million: Cost to repair, update, and modernize all three schools 

    • $87 Million: Cost to build an entirely new PreK-12 school

  • Operating Costs

    The referendum plan will reduce long-term operating costs by approximately $600,000 per year, which is not possible with repairs to the elementary schools alone.

  • Annual Savings

    • Fewer staff positions, especially part-time staff. Staff reductions will be achieved through attrition as much as possible. 

    • Energy savings of $12,000+ annually. 

    • Lower building insurance premiums. 

    • Reduced costs for snow removal, groundskeeping, and technology. 

    • Significantly reduced long-term maintenance costs.

Referendum Details

Plan Development

A PLAN MADE BY AND FOR THE WCA COMMUNITY 

In 2024, the district formed a community task force of teachers, parents, and local leaders to consider the current state of the school buildings, feedback from residents, and how to improve learning spaces for students. The task force met eight separate times to carefully consider: 

  • Comprehensive assessments of the structural, mechanical and electrical integrity of the two elementary schools and secondary school. 

  • Detailed estimations of needed maintenance at the two elementary schools and secondary school over the next decade. 

  • A community-wide survey to help understand residents’ perspectives and priorities. The School Board used the results to determine final projects included in the plan.

The task force focused on three guiding principles: 

  • Future-Focused Education 

  • Operational Sustainability 

  • One WCA Community

Tax Impact

If approved, the referendum will invest approximately $33.8 million to complete the proposed plan. For the owner of a $200,000 home (approximately the median in our district), the tax impact is projected to be approximately 
$232 per year or $19 per month. 

All projected tax impacts already account for the Ag2School credit, interest, and fees needed to bond for the project. No paperwork or application is required to receive this tax credit. 

Use our tax calculator to instantly determine your projected tax impact. www.ehlers-inc.com/calculator/westcentral2026]

Voting Information

Early Voting
September 18-November 2
Available in person or via mail-in ballot

  • Douglas County – Douglas County Administration Building Lower Level – M-F 8am-4:30pm

  • Grant County – Grant County Government Center - M-F 8am-4pm

  • Pope County - Pope County Courthouse - M-F 8am-4:30pm

  • Stevens County - Stevens County Courthouse - M-F 8:30am-4:00pm

Visit your county’s elections website or office for full details on how to vote early. 

Election Day
Tuesday, November 3
Polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Find your polling location at pollfinder.sos.mn.gov. You must be registered to vote to cast your ballot. If you are not registered, you can do so here or in person at your polling place on Election Day. 

MORE RESOURCES

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can vote on this referendum?

Any registered voter in the district is eligible to vote on the referendum during the November 2026 general election.

When and where do I vote?

VOTING INFORMATION 

Early Voting
September 18-November 2
Available in person or via mail-in ballot

  • Douglas County – Douglas County Administration Building Lower Level – M-F 8am-4:30pm

  • Grant County – Grant County Government Center - M-F 8am-4pm

  • Pope County - Pope County Courthouse - M-F 8am-4:30pm

  • Stevens County - Stevens County Courthouse - M-F 8:30am-4:00pm

Visit your county’s elections website or office for full details on how to vote early. 

Election Day
Tuesday, November 3
Polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Find your polling location at pollfinder.sos.mn.gov. You must be registered to vote to cast your ballot. If you are not registered, you can do so here or in person at your polling place on Election Day. 

MORE RESOURCES

How was the plan made?

A PLAN MADE BY AND FOR THE WCA COMMUNITY 

In 2024, the district formed a community task force of teachers, parents, and local leaders to consider the current state of the school buildings, feedback from residents, and how to improve learning spaces for students. The task force met eight separate times to carefully consider: 

  • Comprehensive assessments of the structural, mechanical and electrical integrity of the two elementary schools and secondary school. 

  • Detailed estimations of needed maintenance at the two elementary schools and secondary school over the next decade. 

  • A community-wide survey to help understand residents’ perspectives and priorities. The School Board used the results to determine final projects included in the plan.

Why is West Central Area School District proposing a referendum?

West Central Area Schools faces three interconnected challenges: aging school facilities, declining enrollment, and increasing operational inefficiencies.

Both North Elementary and South Elementary contain building systems that are reaching or have exceeded their useful life, including boilers, ventilation systems, plumbing, electrical infrastructure, roofing, accessibility features, and security features.

At the same time, district enrollment has declined over time and is projected to continue declining in the coming years. As enrollment decreases, maintaining multiple aging buildings becomes increasingly expensive and inefficient.

WCA Schools have a responsibility to students and taxpayers to manage facilities efficiently while continuing to provide high-quality educational opportunities. The proposed referendum is intended to address critical facility needs while creating a more sustainable long-term model for education, operations, and finances.

What is the district proposing?

If approved by voters, the district would transition to a unified PreK-12 campus located at the current Secondary School site in Barrett. The proposal would close North Elementary in Elbow Lake and South Elementary in Kensington and construct a new elementary addition connected to the Secondary School. Key areas of the existing Secondary School would be renovated to improve safety, accessibility, and learning environments.

This plan will right-size the district’s spaces to reduce long-term operational costs, improve financial stability, and create a unified campus serving all students.

How much would the proposed project cost?

The proposed referendum would authorize approximately $33.8 million to fund the project.

When will residents vote on the referendum?

The referendum election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents may also vote early through absentee and in-person voting opportunities beginning Sept. 18, 2026.

Why can’t the district simply continue maintaining the current buildings?

The district could continue maintaining the current buildings, but doing so would require substantial investment that would still leave many long-term challenges unresolved.

Building assessments estimate that approximately $20.5 million will be needed to repair the district’s current facilities “as-is” over the next decade. These repairs would address deferred maintenance, but would not include any updates to educational programming, operational efficiency, or classroom design.

Why not build an entirely new school?

The district evaluated the possibility of constructing a completely new PreK-12 facility. Current estimates place the cost of a new school at approximately $87 million.

By renovating and expanding the existing Secondary School, the district can achieve its goals at a significantly lower cost while continuing to utilize a facility that remains structurally sound and well-suited for future use.

What will happen to the North and South Elementary buildings?

The project budget accounts for demolition and abatement of the two buildings. However, the district will consider other options, such as selling the building(s), should there be a party interested in purchasing either property.

The district would need to utilize any funds set aside for demolition/abatement prior to sale of the properties.

What improvements would be made to the weights and conditioning/wrestling spaces?

The current weights and conditioning space will be converted into additional space for the district’s growing wrestling program, which struggles to provide enough space for practices and competition. A small addition will be built on the southeast side of the school to provide new weights and conditioning space for physical education classes and athletics. This space will be available for community use when not being used by students. The space will also include externally accessible restrooms for activities and events held at the nearby athletic fields.

What is the Ag2School credit?

Minnesota’s Ag2School program provides a 70% credit for school building bond taxes levied on agricultural land (except house, garage, and one acre). No application is required. The credit is automatically applied to qualifying property.

District projections estimate that approximately half of the project’s cost will be offset through the Ag2School program. All tax impact estimates provided by our district already account for the Ag2School credit.

Why is the district proposing new construction instead of just repairing buildings?

The district evaluated multiple options. Estimated costs include:

  • Repair all three schools “as-is”: approximately $20.5 million

  • Repair and renovate all three schools: approximately $44.3 million

  • Transition to a unified PreK-12 campus: approximately $33.8 million

While the one-site solution costs slightly more than renovating existing facilities, it also addresses operational inefficiencies that would remain under other options. District leaders believe the one-site model provides greater long-term value by reducing operating costs while improving educational opportunities.

Are there other costs for the project not included in the referendum amount?

No. The $33,805,000 figure on the ballot encompasses all costs for construction, underwriting, bond issuance, permitting, testing, insurance, contingency, and possible demolition/abatement for the elementary schools. All tax impact projections already factor in both the principal and anticipated interest for the bonds.

How would this plan impact staffing?

The district currently anticipates a staffing reduction equivalent to 10 full-time employees if the referendum plan passes. These reductions will primarily be the result of the effects of transitioning to one building. For example, a single building will require fewer custodial, cooking, and administrative employees, and eliminate the need for certain part-time teaching positions that are currently split between the two elementary schools.

The district will aim to achieve these staffing reductions via pre-planned retirements and natural attrition whenever possible.

kids in gym
Investing in Our Students

We have a responsibility to our students and taxpayers

to manage our school buildings efficiently and provide the best value to our community.

Find Your Poll