FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

KMS Schools face two primary challenges: 1) our schools need additional and improved space to provide appropriate learning environments for our students; and 2) our district needs additional and improved space to support our growing athletics and activities needs. For a complete list of specific challenges that our district faces, click here.

Specialist services in our elementary school have been forced to outlying spaces such as the building’s lower level and portable classrooms, and spaces to support specialist services in our secondary school are limited. Our elementary school has no room for growth without adding pressure on other core spaces such as flexible classrooms, the Media Center, and music areas.

Based on current state/MDE standards and our lack of available space, the science classrooms in our secondary school are inadequate to meet our students’ needs.

When it was opened for use in 2015, the existing agricultural classroom in our secondary school was originally designed for one teacher. Since then, our district hired a second agricultural teacher to accommodate our curriculum needs. The room was not designed to serve two classes at the same time, which means one class needs to move to an alternative space as available.

The size of our existing Metal Shop severely limits the number of students that can participate in metals and welding courses. The existing Media Center in our secondary school is underutilized due to its layout. It lacks flexible space to support independent learning and small group instruction.

The existing restrooms adjacent to the student dining area in our elementary school are inefficiently laid out and the finishes and fixtures have reached the end of their life cycle. These restrooms need to be improved to meet ADA accessibility and age-appropriate standards.

The existing football field at our elementary school lacks a running track and the flexibility that artificial turf provides, and doesn’t make the best use of the space due to its positioning. In addition, parking for events is found only on surrounding streets.

The existing varsity softball field and junior varsity softball field are not configured in a way that makes best use of the available land. We also lack adequate space on the site to accommodate parking in this area and a track around the existing grass football field. In addition, the fields require upgrades to fencing, dugouts, and playing surfaces.

The existing locker rooms at our secondary school need improvements. The theater area at our secondary school requires seating replacements, lighting upgrades, an improved sound and lighting booth, and a reconfigured back-of-house area to create a better theater entrance.

Our band and choir programs are experiencing increasing pressure on their existing spaces due to an increase in student participation.

Yes, our maintenance staff has taken great care of our schools. In addition, as part of our Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) plan, our district was able to complete the following projects in 2021: 1) improve the existing parking lots at our elementary and secondary schools, 2) replace the internal heating and cooling piping associated with the geothermal system at our secondary school, 3), replace the remaining portions of roofing at our secondary school, and 4) replace the existing steam boilers and existing piping in the southwest corner of the building so that the entire building operates off of a hot water system.

Educational and facility needs still remain from our 2013 referendum in addition to needs that have stemmed over the last decade as our district has evolved, grown, and changed.

Our district does its best to provide opportunities for students that challenge them in academics, athletics, activities, and more. Our district’s plan for space is driven mostly by resident students’ needs, so we can provide a well-rounded education. However, we’ve seen growth in the number of families that choose to open enroll their children, and we appreciate that open enrolled students bring state funding that improves education for all students.

As we look to the future, our primary growth is projected to follow the current pattern, including both current and past district residents. This means previous KMS graduates are choosing to return to KMS, start their families, and give their children an educational experience similar to the one they had.

Approximately 94% of students, including those that open enroll, participate in some type of athletic or activity outside of the classroom. Students that open enroll in KMS Schools provide additional funding to our district and, ultimately, allow us to maintain manageable class sizes, keep our current technology needs updated, provide mental health support to students, and more. We believe families should have the ability to choose what district their student attends regardless of geographic boundary. We follow the MN Department of Education’s guidelines and timelines when it comes to open enrollment.

No. Open enrollment does not negatively impact the district’s overall operating budget. Here are three reasons why: 1) KMS Schools has maintained a healthy fund balance, which continues to grow. Our district has been wise with taxpayer dollars and dollars from the state. 2) The district receives the same funding per student regardless of whether that is a resident student or an open-enrolled student. 3) The district has not required an operating levy to offset or supplement the district’s annual budget for the last 10 years. Over the last decade, our school board and district administration have been efficient and intentional with district spending.