Our Challenges

Why is Badger Community School holding a referendum now?

Badger Community School is asking voters to approve new funding that would allow us to fix serious problems with our school building and avoid cuts to the programs and services our students rely on.

Aging School Facilities

Basic infrastructure at the school building needs urgent repairs to remain safe, functional, and efficient for students and staff.

  • Critical systems — including heating, ventilation, fire alarms, and sprinklers — are outdated or no longer meet safety or industry standards.

  • Key parts of the building — like the windows, doors, and bathrooms— need upgrades to keep our school comfortable and accessible.

  • Undersized spaces — Badger ranks near the bottom in Minnesota for learning space per student. A recent assessment found over a dozen areas in our building that do not meet state standards.

These challenges not only increase maintenance costs each year, they affect students and staff directly

Outdated, inefficient boiler: When our boiler stopped working last April, students were forced to be prepared with jackets in case the temperature dropped too low before repairs were made.

  • Heating pipes from 1951: Our aging heating pipes leak often and no longer meet current standards, and are expensive to maintain. $20,000 was spent in 2024-2025 alone to patch leaks and keep the system operational, and another $25,000 has already been allocated for additional repairs this year.

  • Accessibility gaps: Bathrooms are not built for people with disabilities and are hard to use for those who need extra space or have limited mobility.

  • Lack of space: 

    • Classrooms are too small for today’s curriculum and there is no shared area for studying or group projects, making it hard for teachers to do hands-on or small-group instruction.

    • The gym and shop are undersized and have no space for storage or separate activities, limiting opportunities for physical education and career/technical education.

  • Poor roof drainage: The roof drains near the building’s foundations, making our deteriorating sidewalks icy in the winter and often dangerous.

A Growing Budget Gap

In 2024, voters passed a new operating levy, providing short-term help to avoid immediate cuts to staff and programs. Still, the cost of education has continued to rise while state funding — which makes up most of our revenue — has dropped nearly 19% since 2005 when adjusted for inflation. Without additional support, we are headed toward further budget shortfalls in future years that could require cuts to staff, programs, and curriculum – a problem that districts across Minnesota are facing.

Faced with these challenges, our district has worked hard with school construction and financial experts to develop a plan to protect the long-term future of our school.