Lakeville Schools Referendum Recap: Here's Everything From the Feb. 24 Community Meeting

TLDR

• Lakeville Area Schools is asking voters to approve a $139.6 million bond on May 12 to expand and renovate all three middle schools.
• Century Middle School is already at 94% capacity — and without action, middle schools could hit 111% by 2028-29.
• The tax hit? About $14/month on a $500,000 home.
• Building a whole new middle school would cost $230-250 million, so additions are the more affordable path.
• Early voting starts March 27. Election day is May 12.

Superintendent Michael Baumann hosted a community meeting on Feb. 24 to lay out the case for Lakeville's upcoming $139.6 million bond referendum. The pitch: all three middle schools — Century, Kenwood Trail, and McGuire — need more space, and they need it now.

Here's what you need to know.

The Middle Schools Are Running Out of Room

This is the big one. Lakeville keeps growing — it was recently named one of the fastest-growing suburbs in Minnesota — and the schools are feeling it. Nearly 9,000 new homes have been built in the Lakeville area over the past decade. Student enrollment jumped by more than 1,200 during that same stretch.

Right now, Century Middle School is sitting at 94% capacity. The district considers 85% "full" because you still need room for special ed, staff space, and all the other things that make a school actually function. Without this bond, projections show middle schools hitting 111% capacity by 2028-29. That's not sustainable.

The district is projecting 8% enrollment growth over the next five years — about 250 more students, which equals roughly eight new classrooms worth of kids.

[Read the full breakdown →](LINK_TO_TOPIC_POST: lakeville-middle-school-enrollment-growth-capacity-crisis)

What the $139.6 Million Would Pay For

Every middle school gets additions and renovations. Baumann walked through concept plans for each building:

Century gets new special ed space, STEM rooms, a woodshop remodel, kitchen and cafeteria renovations, and additional classroom space.

Kenwood Trail gets a new gym, interior renovations on all three levels, more parking, and a new tennis court (the other schools have more courts, so this levels the playing field).

McGuire gets new classrooms, an auxiliary gym, locker improvements, and a bigger cafeteria.

Across all three schools, the focus is on bigger classrooms, flexible learning spaces, updated specialist areas (art, music, STEM, band, choir, FACS), expanded cafeterias and kitchens, and improved special education classrooms.

If the bond passes, the district moves into an accelerated design process with more community involvement.

[Read the full breakdown →](LINK_TO_TOPIC_POST: lakeville-middle-school-bond-what-each-school-gets)

Why Not Just Build a New Middle School?

Baumann addressed this head-on. Some residents have floated the idea of building a fourth middle school instead. His take: the math doesn't work.

A new middle school would require land acquisition, at least 36 months of construction, and repurposing an existing building — all adding up to an estimated $230-250 million. That's nearly double the current bond ask. The district's strategy of additions plus targeted new construction (like Highview Elementary) has worked before and costs significantly less.

The Tax Impact

For a home at Lakeville's median value of $500,000, the bond would cost about $14 per month. The meeting included a breakdown for different home values, but that $500K number is the benchmark most residents will relate to.

What Happens If It Fails?

Baumann was blunt: overcrowding gets worse. Class sizes go up. Course offerings could shrink. Scheduling gets harder. And here's the kicker — construction costs keep climbing, so doing this same project later will cost more. The district has seen how fast new development is moving in Lakeville, including a residential project on the southwest side that's ahead of schedule. The kids are coming whether the buildings are ready or not.

Looking Ahead: High Schools Are Next

Baumann tipped his hand a bit on future planning. He said high school additions will likely be needed in a couple of years. The district's Facilities Vision Plan 2035 is in the works, and bigger questions about ALC (Area Learning Center) and special education capacity are on the horizon. Those conversations are coming — but right now, middle schools are the priority.

Community Confidence Is High

The district shared results from a Morris Leatherman survey: 90% of residents rate school quality as excellent or good, and 87% say the district does what is right. Whether that goodwill translates into a "yes" vote on May 12 remains to be seen — but Baumann noted he'd much rather be starting from those numbers than lower ones.

The Bottom Line

This is a big moment for Lakeville Area Schools. The district is asking for $139.6 million to make room for the students who are already on their way. The alternative is overcrowded hallways, packed cafeterias, and fewer options for your kids.

Early voting starts March 27 at the district office. Election day is May 12, with polls open from 7 AM to 8 PM. You can also request a mail-in ballot.

For more info, visit isd194.org.

FAQ

How much would this cost me?

About $14/month if your home is worth $500,000, which is the median in Lakeville. More expensive homes pay more; less expensive homes pay less.

When is the vote?

May 12, 2026. Early voting starts March 27 at the district office. You can also vote by mail.

Why can't they just build a new middle school?

A new school would cost an estimated $230-250 million — nearly double the $139.6 million bond. It would also require buying land, 36+ months of construction, and figuring out what to do with the old building.

How crowded are the schools right now?

Century Middle School is at 94% capacity. The district considers 85% to be "full" because you need room for special ed, staff, and other programs. Without action, projections show 111% capacity by 2028-29.

Will high schools need work too?

Probably, yes. Superintendent Baumann said high school additions will likely be needed in a couple of years, but the district wants to do that as part of a bigger planning conversation.