On May 13, 2025 the Fulda Public School District will ask the voters to support a $35.3 million bond referendum to fund the move to a one building PreK-12 school campus; the upgrading of heating and ventilation systems; roofing and parking lot replacement; and secure school entrances.
How did the district get here? After investigating the mechanical, safety, indoor air quality, accessibility, age of the facilities, the operational costs of the present school facilities, and gathering information from a Community Survey, the Fulda School Board determined the best way forward is to move to a one building PreK-12th grade school campus.
The current elementary school was built in 1913 and was expanded in 1939 and 1970. A thorough study by Apex Facility Solutions identified numerous major needed repairs with an estimated cost of over $10 million – these repairs would not address the needed updating of classrooms or student support areas. The high school was built in 1955 and was expanded in 1964 and 1970. The Apex study revealed $12.4 million in needed upgrades and repairs to the high school building. If both schools would remain open, the District would not reduce operational costs.
In renovating and upgrading the current high school building into a PreK-12 school campus, the district will utilize a functionally sound building and avoid the cost of a total new facility which would cost an estimated $80 million. The proposed project will include 30,340 square feet of new construction, and major renovation to 15,710 square feet of the high school building. In moving to a one building school campus the district will design and organize the school campus to ensure specific elementary and high school learning spaces.
At this time the Minnesota Department of Education is conducting a required Review and Comment process for the proposed project, their findings will be shared with the public when received by the school district.