GIBBON — Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop (GFW) school district voters will decide a two-question bond referendum on Tuesday, April 11. The GFW School Board will get more information on the referendum at their regular meeting in the Early Childhood Room in the Gibbon School beginning at 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 20.

The first ballot question would authorize $55 million in bonding authority for a new 7-12 grade school on a new, 50-acre building site. The second ballot question would authorize an additional $14.9 million in bonding for a new PK-12 school on the same, 50-acre site.

Passage of the second ballot question is contingent on passage of the first question. The district would contribute $2.3 million of existing school district funds to the project if the second question is approved.

Projects would be scheduled in the 2024-2025 calendar years.

The district estimates a new, centrally-located PK-12 facility would save the district $500,000 to $750,000 a year and appears to be in the long-term interest of the school district.

Based on the department’s analysis of the school district’s required documentation and other pertinent information from sources of the Minnesota Department of Education, the Commissioner of Education provided a positive review and comment on the project, according to the school board packet.

GFW Facility Manager Brian Wier reported new shot clocks were installed on basketball hoops, B&R Plumbing fixed the greenhouse heater and Gag Sheet Metal will repair roof leaks. Weir said the day custodian is needed in Winthrop in addition to a district maintenance worker.

Donations include two anonymous $2,000 donations to be used at the discretion of the elementary and middle/high school principals. The Junior Class donated $500 to the Winthrop Honor Guard and $400 from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation for a high school fentanyl presentation.

The school board acts on three curriculum resolutions the meeting.

Agenda action items include Amplify, a new PreK-8 English language arts curriculum; StudySync, a new 9-12 English language arts curriculum, and Discovery Education, a new K-12 Science curriculum.

While students were out over Spring Break, GFW held three professional development days for staff. Most of the time was spent learning about the new English Language Arts and Science curriculums.

Staff feedback included a number of positive comments.

“It’s always exciting to get a new curriculum. I’m excited to see us move towards a more research-based program,” said one teacher.

“There are so many additional resources and activities within the curriculum that could be utilized–SEL (social emotional learning) and social studies,” said a teacher.

For more information, visit gfwschools.org.