Addressing Our Space
& Facility Needs
The Hawley Public Schools is growing! While this growth is a good thing, it has also led to some space and facility challenges in our schools.
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Projections indicate that the Hawley Public Schools’ K-6 enrollment will increase by 45-99 students in the next five years, while our middle and high school enrollment will increase by 37-48 students. By the 2031-32 school year, our enrollment is projected to be up to 25% greater than it is today.
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The School Board and district leaders have been engaged in a four-phase process to identify our most pressing needs and develop potential solutions. This includes analyzing the educational adequacy of existing spaces, the current physical conditions of district facilities, and past and future student enrollment. We also surveyed teachers, staff, and students about their current spaces and where improvements are needed.
Our Facility Needs
Our growth is leading to capacity challenges at both Hawley Elementary School and Hawley High School. In fact, our elementary school is already at capacity, with spaces designated as classrooms that were not designed for that use.
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There is no room for more enrollment growth without increasing class sizes, and a dedicated space for BASE/FITS is also needed.
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Our high school is nearing capacity and will not be able to accommodate higher enrollment unless class sizes are increased. The building also does not have a secured double entry.
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While both schools have been well maintained, they have some additional deficiencies that will need to be addressed.
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Projections indicate that the Hawley Public Schools’ K-6 enrollment will increase by 45-99 students in the next five years, while our middle and high school enrollment will increase by 37-48 students. By the 2031-32 school year, our enrollment is projected to be up to 25% greater than it is today.
The Process
The School Board and district leaders have been engaged in a four-phase process to identify our most pressing needs and develop potential solutions. This includes analyzing the educational adequacy of existing spaces, the current physical conditions of district facilities, and past and future student enrollment.
We also surveyed teachers, staff, and students about their current spaces and where improvements are needed.
We will continue to seek this high level of engagement and answer community members’ questions all the way through election day.
Proposed Solutions
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On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Hawley Public Schools residents will vote on two referendum questions.
Question #1, if approved, would allow the district to move forward with the following projects:
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Build a new 5th-8th grade middle school building, designed to meet Minnesota Department of Education guidelines for square footage allocations.
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Purchase an additional 10-20 acres to the north of our campus to support the new school and provide adequate green space.
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Convert our high school to serve grades 9-12, with an addition constructed to provide a secured entry and office space at the exterior of the school.
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Build a new fitness space and remodel the existing weight room to create a new main entrance into the high school gym.
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Minor remodels to update current office spaces that will be relocated to educational space, while enlarging the district office to better support staff.
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Convert our elementary school to a PreK-4 school, with a small addition to create larger, appropriately sized preschool rooms and a music classroom.
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Remodel existing spaces into larger, appropriately sized kindergarten classrooms.
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Add new restrooms and a concession stand to the north of the elementary school campus to support the football field and track.
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Convert the current band space at the elementary school to cafeteria space to support additional capacity.
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Address deferred maintenance needs at our elementary and high school buildings.
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Sell the existing preschool building.
An approved Question #2 would give the district the ability to build an additional gym station at the new middle school. This additional space would enlarge the gym so that it can be used as a competition gym for high school activities. There would also be new auditorium and support spaces incorporated into the new middle school.
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If both bond referendum questions are approved, the estimated tax impact would be $508.43 annually on a $180,000 home.
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