Election 2016: District 742 Residents To Vote Again On New Tech High School, Apollo Updates

ST. CLOUD - A year ago voters in the St. Cloud area school district voted down a bond referendum to build a new Tech High School, remodel Apollo High School, and make security upgrades at each of the other buildings in the district.

On Tuesday the school district will ask voters to pass a new reworked somewhat smaller referendum.  The biggest difference will be instead of just one question, this time around it has been broken down into two ballot questions.

Question number one is asking for $104.5 million for a new Technical High School to be built on 33rd Street South.  That figure is down from the original cost of $113.8 million that was asked for last year.

Question number two is asking for $38.75 million to update Apollo High School.  That figure is down from the original cost of $46.5 million that was asked for last year.

Question number one has to pass in order for question number two to pass.  The total for the bond referendum is $143.25 million, down from the request of $160.3 million last year.

District officials say, if both questions pass, property taxes on a $150,000 home would go up by about $13 a month.

Earlier this year the district announced a proposal to repurpose portions of the current Tech High School into the District Office and a Welcome Center.  Some portions of the current Tech, and the Media Services site, would be sold.