ISD 857: Lewiston Altura Public Schools
The Goal
Lewiston-Altura Public Schools, ISD 857 is located in Winona County in southeastern Minnesota, approximately 120 miles southeast of Minneapolis. The District provides kindergarten through 12th education for over 500 students in a community of about 4,600 residents.
The District experienced a failed election in November 2023, in which voters were asked to approve an operating referendum along with two bond issue questions totaling $39,185,000. Despite the outcome, significant repair and maintenance needs remained, as well as essential secure entrance enhancements and classroom improvements.
The Solution
The District engaged Ehlers’ School Finance Team for Debt Planning & Issuance. Ehlers worked closely with the District as they evaluated and prioritized proposed projects, helping leadership focus on the most critical needs. The District also reassessed the community’s appetite for tax increases and gained insight into voter perceptions of project priorities. To improve clarity and voter understanding, Ehlers recommended consolidating the proposed bond questions from two into a single, more focused question, simplifying messaging and reducing voter confusion. Additionally, Ehlers structured the debt schedule to include a natural decline in payments over time, creating flexibility for the District to address lower-priority projects in future years with minimal additional tax impact.
The Outcome
The District had a successful election on November 5, 2024 with voters approving a $19,950,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities at the Elementary School and High School, including the creation of secure entrances; the construction of traffic flow improvements; renovations and upgrades to create larger kindergarten classrooms, flexible learning spaces, and improved CTE, science and art classroom spaces; remodeling and upgrades to create ADA-accessible restrooms and improved locker rooms; and the completion of various deferred maintenance projects.