Ellsworth voters approve $5 million school bond referendum

Julie Buntjer, The Daily Globe, Worthington, Minn.
·2 min read

May 14—ELLSWORTH — Though the Ellsworth School Board won't canvass the results of Tuesday's election until its Monday night meeting, the unofficial results were overwhelmingly in support of a $5 million bond referendum.

According to Superintendent Robert Routh, 191 votes were cast in favor of the bond, and 44 were opposed. After the final votes were counted Tuesday evening, Routh said he speaks for himself and members of the school board when he said they feel relieved and thankful.

"They know how important the vote was for the continuity of the school and education," Routh said of voters in the southwestern Nobles County school district. He said it's good to know the district has the support of voters.

"Our insurance was non-renewed (so) this is a big part of getting that going," Routh said.

A

Globe story

from April 22 reported the school's notice that its insurance policy would not be renewed based on the building's electrical system, gym roof and shop roof. All of those concerns and more will be addressed with the bond funds.

The $5 million bond will be used to convert the heating system from the existing 70-year-old boilers to propane-fueled furnaces, with each furnace to service two to three classrooms. The change will result in more efficient heating and cooling inside the school, as well as the removal of window air conditioners in classrooms. Steam heat registers are still used in the original portion of the school, which is more than a century old.

Additional projects covered by the bond are new roofs for the school's gymnasium and shop, replacement of the electrical system that still operates on fuses, tuckpointing and removal of asbestos.

"So many choices the board made," Routh said. "...This building is going to be in good shape.

"There are a lot of things to get done and we're doing it for $5 million," he added. "How exciting for the whole community to see some construction happen on this historic building — historic institution. I think people are going to be excited about the prospect of the future. I'm very happy for Ellsworth."

The Ellsworth school has approximately 130 students in kindergarten through grade 12 and opened a daycare in an unused classroom in its elementary wing last November.