Here's What Each Lakeville Middle School Would Get From the $139.6M Bond
TLDR
- Century gets new STEM and special ed space, a woodshop remodel, and a bigger cafeteria.
- Kenwood Trail gets a new gym, renovations on all three levels, more parking, and a tennis court.
- McGuire gets new classrooms, an auxiliary gym, locker upgrades, and cafeteria expansion.
- The total price tag: $139.6 million, with voters deciding on May 12.
So you've probably heard that Lakeville Area Schools is asking voters to approve a $139.6 million bond for its three middle schools. But what does that actually buy?
Superintendent Michael Baumann broke it down at a community meeting on Feb. 24. Each school — Century, Kenwood Trail, and McGuire — gets a tailored mix of additions and renovations designed to handle the enrollment growth headed their way.
Here's what each school would get.
Century Middle School
Century is the most crowded of the three right now — sitting at 94% capacity when the district considers 85% to be full. So it's getting significant attention.
The plan includes new special education space, updated STEM rooms, and a woodshop remodel. The kitchen and cafeteria get renovated and expanded — Baumann noted that if you've been to Century lately, you know it's "pretty tight" in there.
Additional classroom space rounds out the Century plan. The goal is to give teachers and students room to breathe while handling the hundreds of new students projected over the next few years.
Kenwood Trail Middle School
Kenwood Trail's plan centers on a new gymnasium and interior renovations across all three levels of the building. The school is also getting more parking — something parents dealing with drop-off and pick-up congestion will appreciate.
One detail that stood out: Kenwood Trail is getting a new tennis court. The other middle schools have more courts, so this brings Kenwood Trail up to par. It's a small thing in the overall budget, but it matters for equity across the district.
The interior renovations cover classrooms and common areas throughout the building. Like the other schools, the focus is on making space for more students while improving the learning environment.
McGuire Middle School
McGuire gets new classroom space, an auxiliary gym, and locker improvements. The cafeteria is also expanding — Baumann described it as "pretty tight" even with current enrollment, before any growth hits.
Baumann also mentioned that pick-up and drop-off around McGuire is "kind of challenging," and the district is looking at ways to improve that situation through site work included in the bond.
What All Three Schools Share
Across the board, the bond targets the same core needs at every building:
Bigger classrooms and flexible learning spaces. The district wants rooms that can adapt — flexible furniture, group learning areas, and spaces that support modern teaching methods.
Updated specialist spaces. That means STEM labs, band and choir rooms, visual and media arts spaces, and FACS (Family and Consumer Science — what used to be called home ec). These programs are popular with students and need room to grow.
Special education improvements. Baumann called special ed space "always a challenge" and said optimizing those classrooms is a priority.
Expanded cafeterias and kitchens. More students means more meals to serve in the same lunch periods. The current setups can't keep up.
Common area upgrades. Hallways, gathering spaces, and transition areas all need to handle more foot traffic without turning into bottlenecks.
These Are Concept Plans — Not Final Designs
Baumann was clear that what he showed at the meeting are general concepts. If the bond passes, the district enters an accelerated design process that will involve more community members. The actual blueprints would be developed after that.
So the specific layouts could shift. But the scope of work — what each school needs and what kind of space gets added — is what voters are approving.
Why Not Just Build a New School?
Baumann addressed this question directly. Building a fourth middle school would cost an estimated $230-250 million. That includes land acquisition, at least 36 months of construction, and the cost of repurposing an existing building.
The additions approach costs $139.6 million — roughly half the price. The district used the same strategy successfully with elementary schools, building Highview Elementary and adding onto existing buildings. Baumann said that approach "proven out to be a winning strategy."
What It Costs You
For a home at Lakeville's median value of $500,000, the bond works out to about $14 per month. The meeting included a breakdown for different home values, so higher-value homes pay more and lower-value homes pay less.
The Bottom Line
Each school gets what it specifically needs — Century gets the most attention because it's the most overcrowded, but Kenwood Trail and McGuire both have real gaps to fill too. The $139.6 million covers all three buildings plus site improvements.
Voters decide on May 12. Early voting starts March 27 at the district office.
FAQ
Is every school getting the same thing?
No. Each school's plan is tailored to its specific needs. Century gets the most new space because it's the most crowded. Kenwood Trail is focused on a new gym and parking. McGuire needs classrooms and cafeteria expansion.
When would construction start?
If the bond passes, the district moves into an accelerated design phase. Baumann didn't give a specific construction start date, but the design process would begin right away.
Are these final plans?
No. What was shown at the meeting are concept plans. If approved, the detailed design process involves more community input. The specifics could change, but the overall scope is what the bond covers.
Why does Kenwood Trail need a tennis court?
The other middle schools have more courts. Adding one at Kenwood Trail makes things equitable across the district — all schools should offer the same activities and opportunities.
What about high schools?
Baumann acknowledged that high school additions will likely be needed in a couple of years as these middle schoolers move up. But that's a separate future conversation — this bond is focused entirely on middle schools.
