frequently asked questions

Questions about our Challenges:

  • Rippleside Elementary has served our community for nearly 70 years. After decades of use, the building is worn out and beyond affordable repairs. Deteriorating infrastructure and lack of space are failing students and limiting educational opportunities. Challenges include:

    • Small, Limited Classrooms: Small classrooms make it hard for students to work together, do hands-on activities, and learn in small groups.

    • Safety and Security Risks: Lack of secured entrances, walkways, and building areas that aren’t handicap accessible, and crowded drop-off areas are safety concerns for students and staff.

    • Lack of Space for Student Support: There isn’t enough room to give students the special education and mental health help they need. 

    • Health Concerns: Poor air quality, inconsistent temperatures, and asbestos exposure create health concerns that distract from learning.

    • Small, Crowded Gyms: The main gym is too small, and the other gym is also used as a lunchroom, limiting space for classes, activities, and storing equipment. 

    • Hazardous Bus Garage: The outdated school bus garage is located off-site and near the railroad tracks, making daily transportation risky and inefficient.

  • Our district receives limited funding for building maintenance and improvements each year. Our maintenance staff has done an excellent job of maximizing this budget, but the reality is that many of Rippleside Elementary’s biggest challenges are beyond affordable repairs. For example, replacing the roof would amount to roughly five times our annual maintenance budget.

  • The need for a new elementary school isn't about student numbers—it's about the condition and age of the building. Our schools are the oldest in the region.  The oldest part of Rippleside is nearly 70 years old and the school was not built to meet modern safety standards, accessibility requirements, or the way education happens today. Continuing to patch up an aging building will cost taxpayers more in the long run and still won’t provide the quality learning environment our students deserve.

    Just like most districts across northern MN, our enrollment has declined slightly over the past decade.  Our demographic projection, however, shows stable enrollment around 60-70 students per grade for the foreseeable future.  It is a great time to plan a new elementary school with steady enrollment projected around a 3 section school (3 classrooms at each grade level).

  • Rippleside Elementary is nearly 70 years old and has significant infrastructure problems, including outdated classrooms, poor air quality, unreliable heating systems, and ongoing water and asbestos issues. 

    The district has invested in upkeep for years, but many of the building’s issues are beyond affordable repairs. After evaluating all options, the district determined that building a new school is the most effective, long-term investment for students, staff, and taxpayers.

  • Facilities assessments and community input have shown that a new school is a strong long-term option for the district. Waiting to move forward could make the project more expensive due to inflation and rising interest rates, leading to higher costs for local taxpayers over time.

Questions about the plan:

  • On Tuesday, November 4, voters in the Aitkin School District will consider a two-question bond referendum:

    • Question One asks voters to consider a $59.44 million investment to replace the nearly 70-year-old Rippleside Elementary with a new PreK-6 school building, including a new transportation center to replace the existing bus garage. 

    • Question Two asks voters to consider a $6 million investment in a new community wellness center attached to the new elementary school. Question Two can only pass if voters also approve Question One.

    For more information on the plan, visit the Plan page.

  • Since 2016, the district has assessed our facilities’ needs through a detailed planning process. This work has included purchasing land to prepare for future space needs and forming a Community Task Force to evaluate our buildings from 2018-2019. In 2024, the district finished a thorough facilities assessment that looked at building conditions, prioritized repairs and upgrades, and planned future investments. As part of this process, we held 14 listening sessions, asked all residents to participate in an online ThoughtExchange survey, and met with government, community, and business partners. Through this work, the district identified Rippleside Elementary as the most urgent priority.

    For more information on the process, visit the Process page.

  • A new PreK-6 elementary school in Aitkin would provide a safe, healthy, more efficient place to learn for our youngest students. 

    Currently, our students at Rippleside are in undersized classrooms that limit learning opportunities. If the referendum is approved, the new PreK-6 school will have fewer – but larger – classrooms that are the right size to meet today’s educational standards and learning needs, including room for hands-on projects, small group work, and personalized learning. A new media center will also offer flexible space for reading, research, and group activities. Other improvements at the new elementary school include:

    • Better Student Support: With dedicated space for special education, academic, and mental health services, the new school will provide stronger support for students who need it. 

    • Safety and Security Enhancements: A secure entrance and front office will ensure that only approved visitors can enter. Parents and buses will have separate drop-off zones to help traffic move more safely and smoothly.

    • Easier Access for Students with Disabilities: The school will meet ADA standards, with accessible doors, classrooms, and restrooms. This will make it easier for all students, staff, and visitors to move around the building.

    • Healthier Classrooms and Hallways: New plumbing and drainage will stop leaks and water damage. This will help keep classrooms and hallways clean and safe for students to learn and grow.

    • Energy Efficiency: Upgraded heating and cooling systems, windows, and doors will make the building more comfortable and save money on energy costs by using less energy.

  • Our high school building is also aging and in need of investment. However, the cost of repairing or replacing both schools would create too large a tax impact for our community. That’s why the district is focusing on our most urgent need: replacing the nearly 70-year-old Rippleside Elementary building, which has many issues that are beyond affordable repairs.

  • The district is continuing to assess and address the high school’s needs as part of our ongoing maintenance and improvement efforts. One of our current priorities is evaluating the HVAC system to ensure it remains reliable and efficient. If we move forward with building a new elementary school, it would allow us to redirect more maintenance funds toward the high school.

  • The challenges at Rippleside Elementary are not going away. The district does not have enough money to fix and update the nearly 70-year-old building on top of ongoing maintenance costs that continue to rise over time. 


    If voters reject the referendum this November, Aitkin Public Schools will not receive the $5 million grant from the IRRRB. This rare funding opportunity is only available for the proposed referendum project, and future funding opportunities are not likely. 


    We work hard to keep up with the needs of our aging school building, but we’re just one step away from a major emergency that could disrupt student learning and school operations, like a broken boiler in the middle of winter or a plumbing failure. These emergency repairs cost more and make it hard to plan and budget facilities maintenance for both of our school buildings. Without a long-term solution, the district and school board will keep focusing on fixing the most urgent problems, using more of our budget to react to problems instead of preventing them.

  • In Minnesota, voters decide whether school districts can increase property taxes to pay for bonds to renovate and construct school buildings. Like a loan on a car or a mortgage on a house, the bonds are repaid over time plus interest.

  • Yes. In the last 10 years, voters in 225 Minnesota school districts have approved building bond referenda to finance construction projects.

  • Great schools benefit our community and those who call it home. They help attract families, support local businesses, and strengthen the quality of life in our area. A modern elementary school would make Aitkin more appealing to new residents and families, bring in jobs during construction, and open the door for future housing and economic growth. 

    For 150 years, Aitkin Public Schools have been a source of opportunity and pride. This proposed plan focuses on our most urgent need—a new PreK-6 elementary school—to ensure our schools continue supporting Aitkin’s future. It would also add a community wellness center to provide a new space for recreation, activities, and gathering year-round for residents of all ages.

  • The proposed new elementary school would be located on approximately 80-90 acres of 225 acres of land owned by the school district (34305 405th Place, Aitkin). The proposed referendum includes the costs of running water and sewer to the district-owned property.

  • In 2018, a community task force recommended a long-range plan to bring all school facilities to one campus. Since then, we have listened to our community and their desire for a more connected school community. As a district, our long-term vision is to bring all PreK–12 students and facilities together on a single, unified campus. But we also recognize the cost to make that vision a reality. That is why we are choosing an incremental approach with an emphasis on the most urgent need: a new PreK-6 elementary school. If voters approve the November 2025 referendum, the new PreK–6 elementary school would be the first major step in making a unified school campus a reality.

    The district already owns land for a future unified campus and has secured IRRRB grant funding to support critical infrastructure work. While future phases to consolidate other school buildings and athletic fields are not yet scheduled or funded, we will continue to engage our community in long-term facilities planning for our schools. 

    This vision will take time. With each step, we’re building a stronger foundation for Aitkin’s students, community, and future.

  • If a new PreK-6 school is built, the district will try to sell the Rippleside Elementary property to someone who may be interested in using the building or developing the site in another way. If it doesn’t sell within two years, the district will demolish the building and work with the city to sell the land for housing.

  • If the referendum is approved by voters and a new PreK-6 school is built, the district will try to sell the Rippleside Elementary property to someone who may be interested in using the building or developing the site in another way. If it doesn’t sell within two years, we will consider demolishing the building and selling the land as lots. While demolition costs are not directly included in the referendum, the district intends to invest the proposed bonds if it passes, which would generate enough earnings to cover demolition after the new school is built.

  • If the referendum is approved by voters this fall, the district will work closely with community members to determine how the wellness center will be designed, managed, and scheduled. We’ve heard a clear desire for it to be a shared, accessible space that welcomes people of all ages year-round, which is our goal. As plans move forward, we’ll provide regular updates and invite input to ensure the wellness center meets the needs of residents.

Questions about the cost:

  • The total cost for the proposed plan is $65.44 million. It will be presented to voters as two questions. Question 1 would invest $59.44 million to build a new PreK-6 school to replace Rippleside Elementary on district-owned land, and build a transportation center near the new school. Question 2 would invest $6 million to build a community wellness center attached to the new school. If voters approve the plan, funding will come from a property tax levy beginning in 2026.

  • Minnesota offers several tax refunds and deferrals that can reduce the tax impact of a referendum. For example, over half a million Minnesotans receive the Homestead Credit Refund. Learn how this refund could potentially offset some of your tax impact from the referendum on the Tax Relief Opportunities page.

  • Estimated costs of a proposed building plan are based on the project scope, square footage, student enrollment, furnishings and equipment, regulatory compliance, local labor and construction market conditions, and contingency planning.

  • If approved by voters, this investment will be supported by a property tax increase that would take effect in 2026 and be in place for 20 years.

    The monthly tax increase for a home valued at $175,000 is estimated to be approximately $17 for Question 1 and $2 for Question 2, or $19 per month if both questions are approved. For a $300,000 home, the monthly increase would be about $34 for Question 1 and $4 for Question 2, or $38 per month if both questions are approved. To estimate your specific tax impact, use our tax calculator. Learn more about the cost of the project on the Cost page.

  • Yes. As part of the district’s planning process, we are actively exploring other funding sources to help offset costs and reduce the impact on property owners. In May, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) awarded the district $5 million to support the infrastructure of a new school, reducing the cost of the project to $65.44 million. This grant is a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to ensure our plan is both fiscally responsible and responsive to the long-term needs of our students, staff, and community. It also shows that this project matters to our region.

    We have also engaged with local lawmakers and city and county officials to discuss funding sources for infrastructure needs. This will continue to be our priority as we work toward the best, most cost-effective plan for our schools and community.

  • To reduce the impact of a bond referendum on owners of farmland, Minnesota’s Ag2School tax credit offers a 70% tax credit to all agricultural property except the house, garage, and one acre surrounding the agricultural homestead. This is not a tax deduction – it is an automatic dollar-for-dollar credit, with no application required.

  • The bond would be in place for 20 years, after which the associated tax would expire.

  • The bond referendum budget cost includes $8 million for extending city water and sewer to the property. These costs are included in the referendum total. An additional $5 million is needed for the district’s connections to roads, utilities, and other site improvements – this portion would be funded through the $5 million IRRRB grant.

  • Bond referendums apply to all property types, including residential homes, businesses, seasonal recreation property and agricultural land. For owners of agricultural land, Minnesota’s Ag2School Tax Credit offers a 70% tax credit to all agricultural property except the house, garage, and one acre surrounding the agricultural homestead. This is not a tax deduction – it is an automatic dollar-for-dollar credit, with no application required.

  • Yes. Receiving the $5 million grant from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) changed the total cost of the referendum from $70.44 million to $65.44 million, directly reducing the impact of the referendum on local taxpayers. The IRRRB grant is a rare funding opportunity that depends on the approval of the referendum.

  • If voters reject the referendum this November, Aitkin Public Schools will not receive the $5 million grant from the IRRRB. This rare funding opportunity is only available for the proposed referendum project, and future funding opportunities are not likely.

  • Yes—the referendum project includes $1.5 million specifically for new furniture, fixtures, equipment, and technology. This means classrooms, offices, and shared spaces will have the items needed to support student learning and staff work from day one. If approved by voters, the referendum would provide a fully functional, ready-to-use school that reflects the needs of our students and community.

Questions about Design/Construction:

  • If voters approve the referendum, the district would move into the design phase through the fall of 2026. The design phase would include input from staff, parents, and residents. Construction would likely begin in spring of 2027, with project completion estimated before the start of the 2028/2029 school year.

  • The district has worked closely with ICS, a consulting firm experienced in school construction, to estimate the project cost. The district will continue to work with ICS throughout the construction process to ensure the project remains on time and on budget.

  • Yes, discussions with MnDOT and our design team started a year ago. If the referendum is passed, MnDOT is prepared to meet with our team to consider safety suggestions for the 169 intersection.

Questions about VOTING:

  • Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. Early voting will begin on Friday, September 19, and be available through Monday, November 3. Learn more on the Voting page.

  • Yes, the sample ballot can be viewed here.

  • Yes. Residents can vote early in person from Friday, September 19, to Monday, November 3, at the Aitkin County Auditor’s Office. Residents can also vote early by mail. Learn more about early voting on the Voting page.

  • Residents can explore this website to learn more about the referendum. Please use the Connect page to send questions or feedback to the district.

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