The Plan

A single-question plan to invest in key facility and educational needs.

On Tuesday, November 7, residents of Goodridge Public School approved a single-question question that will invest $21.35 million into making critical improvements to address our facility and educational needs. 

After evaluating several options, our school board and Community Action Committee feel that the proposed plan balances critical educational and facility needs well. In addition, the district strategically assessed other opportunities within our district to address our needs, however, no viable sites exist within our community. 

This group feels confident that additions and renovations, instead of new construction, provide the best long-term solution for the district.

What’s included in the proposed plan?

Critical facility updates including building systems, accessibility, safety, and security:

  • Heating and ventilation will be improved with a new boiler system, temperature controls, and other system replacements.

  • A dedicated, secure main entrance will be created to limit public access points during school hours, with the district office relocated near this secure entrance. 

  • Various critical bathroom updates: 

    • A new, handicap-accessible boy’s bathroom will be added to the lower level, and the existing lower level girl’s restroom will be renovated to meet handicap accessibility and improve finishes. 

    • The existing boy’s bathroom will be renovated, and a new girl’s bathroom will be added to the second level. 

    • In addition, both a boy’s and a girl’s restroom will be added to the third floor — currently, no bathrooms exist on this floor. The existing workroom will also be renovated to serve as an additional bathroom.

  • The existing history classroom will be renovated to create a corridor from the elevator to the main hallway.

Improved and additional space to best support our students:

  • An expanded area to support Career and Technical Education (CTE) will be built adjacent to the existing shop to provide space for metals, welding, robotics, and small engines. 

  • The existing office space and history classroom will both be renovated to serve as space for Special Education. 

  • A six-classroom addition will be built onto the existing school and house students in grades 3-6. This addition will also provide space for Special Education and flexible collaboration. 

  • A full-sized gymnasium addition will be built to support physical education classes, athletics, and other activities. This space will include a full-size basketball court (running north and south), and two junior high-sized cross courts (running east and west). In addition, the new space will include a commons area with a concessions stand, locker rooms, and a new weight room with community access. 

  • Other educational renovations include: 

    • The existing staff workroom and art/home economics room will be renovated to provide both a science lab and a science lecture area. 

    • The current science lab will be renovated to serve as space for Family and Consumer Science.

    • The existing 6th-grade classroom will be renovated to serve as space for art. 

    • Our existing six elementary classrooms will be renovated to four classrooms to meet the Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) guidelines. 

    • The existing Special Education and math classroom will be renovated to provide adequate space for history. 

    • The existing library will be renovated to serve as a staff workroom.

Goodridge Public School Conceptual Drawings:

Hover over the icons below to view details for each section of the building. Please note that the images below are conceptual and not finalized. If approved, the design process would involve stakeholder input to ensure the design best responds to those that would use the facility.

Frequently asked questions about the plan:

  • If approved on Tuesday, November 7, the design and pre-construction phase of the project would take place from December 2023 to July 2024. The project bid and award phase would take place from August 2024 to September 2024, and construction would take place from May 2025 to August 2026. Please note that this schedule may change because of material delays or unforeseen lead times.

  • If the referendum passes, the district will begin the design process, led by the project architect. Community input is important during this process, and we will involve staff, administrators, community members, and students who will work collaboratively with Foss Architecture & Interiors throughout the design process. Input would be asked for and encouraged to ensure the design of the renovated and expanded Goodridge Public School best represents the students, staff, and community who will use it.

  • The cumulative gymnasium space in Goodridge Public School is not adequate. When compared to the MDE’s educational adequacy guidelines, the larger of the district’s two gymnasiums does not have enough space to serve as an elementary school gymnasium. Physical education classes and recess use gymnasium space multiple times throughout the day, and require adequate space to do so. The current small gymnasium is the ideal location for a secured, main entrance that is closest to the front of the building for added security. As part of the plan, the small gymnasium would be repurposed to serve as a dedicated, secure entrance and space for administrative offices. Transforming the small gymnasium was the most cost-effective solution for this portion of the project. If approved, a new gymnasium would be constructed on the north side of the existing school and provide space for locker rooms, concessions, and a weight room with community access.

  • After high school, not all students decide to attend a four-year college. Many students, including those in the Goodridge area, decide to immediately enter the workforce and require hands-on learning and real-world experiences to best position them for success. An expanded area, built adjacent to the existing shop, would provide adequate space for welding, small engines, welding, robotics and more. These programs would support students that are choosing to enter the workforce well.