This article is a feature from the 2024-25 Minnetonka Public Schools Annual Report.

Excellence in leadership and organizational support has long been a cornerstone goal for Minnetonka Public Schools. Ensuring that District facilities meet current and future student needs stands as a critical component of this commitment. In April 2024, the District embarked on an ambitious journey by establishing the Facilities Study Task Force—a comprehensive effort culminating in the District’s first building bond referendum request in 29 years.

District leaders solicited applications from across the school and residential communities, ultimately assembling a broad and diverse 26-member task force representing the breadth of Minnetonka’s stakeholders. From mid-April through mid-October 2024, including throughout the summer months, these parents, administrators, teachers and community members committed themselves to an exhaustive review process to inform critical decisions about the District’s facilities.

The task force was thorough and systematic. Members toured and examined every school and District building, studying the history and current status of each facility while reviewing comprehensive survey data from key stakeholders. They attended more than 15 presentations, analyzing how existing spaces support educational programming and identifying where improvements could better serve students’ evolving needs. This meticulous process enabled the task force to develop well-informed recommendations grounded in data, community input and firsthand observation.

Through extensive work, the task force initially identified more than $190 million in priority facility needs across the District. Recognizing the magnitude of this figure, members engaged in careful deliberation to determine the most critical investments required to support student success. It ultimately prioritized $85M in essential improvements—needs deemed most urgent for ensuring safe, modern and adaptable learning environments that can support instructional excellence far into the future.

The task force’s recommendations addressed systemic needs across all District facilities. Every school would receive safety and security improvements, while middle schools—which have seen the fewest upgrades over the past two decades—would receive the largest investment. These improvements include updated and additional science classrooms, flexible multi-use instructional spaces for students and community use, expanded cafeteria areas, and enhanced gym and performance spaces. Most sites would gain new small group instructional spaces, and Deephaven Elementary would receive a gymnasium to match the District’s other elementary schools. Minnetonka High School improvements would include a redesigned counseling center and an expanded cafeteria.

Based on these comprehensive recommendations, the School Board unanimously voted to place the $85M Building Bond Referendum on the November ballot. Demonstrating the District’s commitment to responsible fiscal stewardship, this referendum has been carefully structured to result in a no net tax rate increase for residents. As older bonds expire and new ones are issued, the restructuring would maintain tax neutrality by extending the current rate for the General Obligation Bond portion of residents’ property taxes.

“The School Board is grateful to the task force for its dedication and diligence,” said Kemerie Foss, Vice Chair of the Minnetonka School Board. “The end result of its efforts, along with the incredible work of the District’s Executive Director of Finance and Operations, Paul Bourgeois, was to find a solution that, if voters pass it, would provide needed security and classroom upgrades but that will not place an additional burden on our taxpayers. That is just outstanding.”

This innovative financial approach reflects the District’s broader commitment to prudent fiscal management. Through aggressive financial stewardship, the District ensures that more than 86% of its annual operating budget flows directly to school-level education services, maximizing support for students and instruction.

“From my first few days serving as Minnetonka’s superintendent, I began hearing from parents, staff and School Board members about updates our schools have needed,” said Superintendent of Schools, David Law. “I am thrilled that this collaborative group came together to do a comprehensive review of the District’s facility challenges and to determine the most critical needs. This resulted in a proposal we can put in front of our residents that would have a net neutral impact on their year-over-year General Obligation Bond portion of their property taxes. It is a win for our schools and for the community.”

The District has maintained complete transparency throughout this process, with multiple School Board study sessions and meetings featuring task force updates and referendum discussions. Community members may access archived videos of these proceedings, along with explanatory materials and public hearing recordings on the District website. As November approaches, the District encourages all community members to become informed about this historic referendum and to consider its impact on student learning environments.

Building Bond Referendum on the Nov. 4 Ballot
The Minnetonka School Board has unanimously voted to put forth a referendum in November asking voters to consider an $85M Building Bond. The bond payments would be structured in a way that allows for no net tax increase for taxpayers for the General Obligation Bond portion of their property taxes. Visit the District website at minnetonkaschools.org/Building-Bond-2025 for key information about the referendum, including Frequently Asked Questions.