we are aitkin
April 2026 Bond Referendum
At Aitkin Public Schools, our mission is to prepare students with the skills they need to learn, grow, and succeed in an ever-changing world. Safe, secure, and well-equipped school buildings are essential to this mission. However, serious health, safety, and infrastructure problems in our current elementary building are failing our students and limiting learning opportunities.
Last November, voters in the Aitkin School District narrowly rejected a ballot proposal focused on replacing Rippleside Elementary with a new school that would fully meet students’ health, safety, and educational needs.
In the months that followed, the Aitkin School Board sought ways to address the school’s needs more affordably. Using the feedback from teachers, parents, and community members, the district is proposing an updated plan with a lower tax impact.
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, district voters will consider a referendum with three ballot questions. The three questions aim to fund a new PreK-6 elementary school, improve storage of district vehicles and equipment, and build a new gymnasium space for school and community use.
WE ARE AITKIN
The April 14 referendum reduces the square footage of the proposed school building, vehicle storage, and gym space, lowering the cost of the plan for taxpayers by 33%. The new plan will be proposed to residents as three ballot questions instead of two, to give voters greater control over the parts of the plan they wish to vote on.
How has the district’s plan changed?
THERE ARE ways to reduce YOUR tax impact!
Over half a million Minnesotans receive the Homestead Credit Refund. Learn how this refund could potentially offset some of your tax impact from the referendum.
This website was created to share information and resources for residents to learn more about the challenges we face, the plan to address them, the cost and tax impact, voting information, and more.
