Montevideo Public Schools will ask voters on February 10 to consider a bond referendum to address critical facility needs across the district. Early voting begins December 26. (See early voting information below.)
The school board unanimously approved the single-question referendum in September after extensive community feedback and facility assessments. If passed, the referendum would fund projects benefiting all students and schools in the district, and the entire school community.
The centerpiece of the proposal is a new performing arts center at the high school, providing a dedicated and fully outfitted auditorium for band, choir, and theater programs. Currently, students must practice and perform in a gym or off-campus in less-than-ideal conditions. The new facility would include rehearsal spaces, practice rooms, and storage areas, and would also serve as the legally required storm shelter.
Additional projects include critical plumbing repairs at the 60-year-old high school, where deteriorating pipes have caused persistent odor issues and drainage problems. The plan also addresses undersized science labs lacking working fixtures and gas lines for experiments, an inadequate cafeteria requiring multiple lunch periods, and an outdated family and consumer sciences classroom.
Security enhancements are planned for Sanford and Ramsey Elementary Schools and the Middle School, where visitors can currently bypass the main office when entering the school.
For the owner of a $200,000 home (the median home value in the school district), the tax impact would be approximately $22 per month or $264 annually.
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District leaders emphasized this referendum differs from previous proposals: the amount has been significantly reduced, there is only one ballot question, and it does not include building a new elementary school. While the 1950s-era elementary schools still face challenges, those projects are not part of this referendum.
Early Voting Information
Early voting starts December 26th. The Chippewa County Auditor’s office is handling the early voting for the February 10, 2026, Bond Referendum.
Chippewa County Auditor’s Office, 629 N 11th St., Montevideo, MN, 56265
Voters can request an absentee ballot up until February 9th. Absentee ballots must be returned to the County Offices by 5 p.m. on Election Day or 8 p.m. on Election Day for agents delivering ballots.
The Auditor’s office regular hours are 8-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and it is closed on some holidays. The Auditor’s office will be open on Saturday, February 7th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Monday, February 9, 2025, until 5 p.m.
If you have additional questions about early voting, please call the Auditor's Office at 320-269-7447.
