Rochester voters approve bond referendum

Voters on Tuesday gave a resounding thumbs up to a pair of bond referendum items from Rochester Public Schools.

The success of the referendum — worth $180.9 million — gives the district the go-ahead to build both a new elementary school and middle school.

“This is a milestone for our community,” the district wrote on Facebook. “The projects that this bond referendum will support are incredibly important for our students, staff, and the community as a whole.”

Question one, which included funding for the new schools, along with security measures and the reconstruction of Longfellow and Bishop elementary schools, was approved by a 2-1 margin.

Ahead of the referendum — the only questions on this year’s ballot in Rochester — district officials had put forward data showing its elementary and middle schools at near capacity.

The second question on the ballot, which provides funding for competitive swimming facilities at Mayo and Century high schools, was approved by a slightly smaller margin. It passed with about 60 percent of the vote.

You can view the results on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.

Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.