The fiscally troubled McLeod West School District is set to consolidate with three other districts, including Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop.
A vote on establishing new school district boundaries could come as early as May.
Because of mounting operating debt and enrollment declines, the McLeod West School Board voted in August to close the aged high school portion of the district’s Brownton facility.
This school year, McLeod West high school students are attending classes at GFW’s Winthrop site, about 13 miles from Brownton.
In addition to Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, the consolidation would include the Buffalo Lake-Hector and Glencoe-Silver Lake school districts.
Each of the four districts must vote in favor of the consolidation plan for it to be implemented.
If the vote fails in any one of the districts, McLeod West will become involuntarily dissolved, and new district boundaries would be determined by the McLeod County Board of Commissioners.
If the proposed consolidation occurs, the McLeod West district would be split three ways, effectively ending its existence.
McLeod West faculty and staff would be reassigned within the other districts, and the school board would have representation on the other districts’ boards.
McLeod West Supt. Tony Boyer said the district operating debt is expected to reach $1.7 million when the school year ends in June.
The debt will be paid through a reorganizational debt levy over five years, and will stay within the confines of the existing McLeod West district.
During the past decade McLeod West district voters have repeatedly defeated bond referendums for a new school.
Though Brownton’s population has dwindled to about 800, referendum backers have maintained that building a new school would be prudent because the area is on the cusp of southward expansion of the Twin Cities metro area.
Local News
McLeod West set to consolidate
Three other school districts must approve move
- Local News
-
-
"Man in Black' charged in St. Peter, Gaylord bank robberies
- Walz happy to see STOCK bill pass the House
- Sleepy Eye schools trying to get state approval for 4-day weeks
-
Tweten advances to group round on 'Idol'
If it weren’t for a tiny glimpse or two on camera Thursday night, and her mom’s confirmation on Facebook, the world wouldn’t have known that North Mankato’s Shelby Tweten advanced on “American Idol” again this week. The West High School student has made it to the most infamous challenge of the season: “group round.”
-
Tour of kitchens benefits Loyola music department
-
West student wins first HickoryTech video prize
- Domestic assault suspect arrested after allegedly fleeing
-
Today’s services, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012
Evan, Eugene, services 10:30 a.m. at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells.
Hite, Shirley, services 11 a.m. at Kinder-Dennis Home for Funerals in Waseca.
Mortvedt, Oris “Mort,” services 11 a.m. at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore.
Schwamberger, M. Elizabeth, services 10 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Mankato.
-
Patient release encourages another round of accusations
The impending release of the first patient in the nearly two-decade history of the Minnesota Sex Offender Program has prompted Republican legislative leaders to call Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton’s administration “reckless” and Dayton to accuse the Republicans of “shameful” demagoguery.
-
Truck fire closes Range Street
A block of Range Street was closed for about an hour tonight while North Mankato firefighters doused a pickup truck that caught fire.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
