Early voting for South Washington County Schools’ (SoWashCo Schools) bond and levy referendum starts today, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.

Early voting (mail-in and in-person) is open from Sept. 22 through Nov. 6. You can vote in person at four convenient Washington County locations Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Stillwater or Forest Lake. You can also vote by absentee ballot.

Check out all of your voting options online.

About SoWashCo Schools request:
On Nov. 7, 2023 SoWashCo Schools is holding a special election to ask voters to consider two bond questions and a Technology Projects levy.

Taking staff and community feedback and input into consideration, the School Board approved a plan to present the district’s new 5-year facility plan, called Securing Our Future. Supporting Our Students, to the community with two bond questions. 

Question 1 addresses safety and security enhancements and expansions and renovations at secondary schools.

Question 2 addresses elementary school space at schools projected to exceed capacity (Bailey, Grey Cloud, Pine Hill and Red Rock elementary schools); and construction of additional bathrooms at schools only containing a single set/four stalls (Crestview, Hillside, Pine Hill, Pullman and Royal Oaks elementary schools).

The second bond question addressing elementary school space and bathrooms is contingent on the passage of Question 1, meaning Question 2 cannot pass without the approval of Question 1. If Question 2 fails, elementary school attendance boundary changes will be implemented for the 2024-25 school year.

Question 3 is a Technology Projects levy that revokes our current technology levy and replaces it with a new levy that would increase funding for infrastructure, safety and security relating to technology.

• You can learn more about the bond question at sowashco.org/facilityplanning.

• Learn more at https://www.sowashco.org/vote-2023/election.

• Use our Tax Impact Calculator

• See potential boundary changes if Question 2 fails using our Boundary Adjustments Tool