The Wayzata Education Fund has named longtime educator and community volunteer MaryKate Haake as the organization’s first executive director, marking a new chapter for the nonprofit that supports students and staff throughout Wayzata Public Schools.
Haake began the newly created role Monday, Aug. 3. She will work with the organization’s volunteer board, donors, families and school partners to expand classroom grants, strengthen community relationships and guide the fund’s continued growth.
“This is a milestone for the Wayzata Education Fund. Our volunteers have spent years building trust and relationships across our entire Wayzata Public Schools community, and that foundation is what makes this moment possible,” said Sara Griffin, board chair of the Wayzata Education Fund. “When we look at what our peer districts have built, we know we’re only just getting started. With dedicated executive leadership now in place, we have a real opportunity to grow our impact for this incredible district even further.”
For more than two decades, the Wayzata Education Fund has relied heavily on volunteer leadership and community support to fund educational opportunities beyond what the district’s regular operating budget can provide.
As its programs and fundraising efforts have grown, the organization’s board determined that dedicated professional leadership was needed to build upon that foundation.
Haake brings more than 15 years of experience in education and community involvement to the position.
She taught general and special education in Shakopee Public Schools for eight years. During that time, she earned a master’s degree and specialist designation in educational leadership, along with a Minnesota K-12 administrative license.
In the Wayzata school community, Haake founded the Moms Helping Moms initiative and served in a leadership role with the Oakwood Elementary PTA.
“I am excited to join the Wayzata Education Fund and build on the incredible work already underway,” Haake said. “Together with our dedicated volunteers, community members, donors, and school partners, we will continue to create meaningful opportunities for each and every Wayzata Public Schools student.”
As executive director, Haake will help oversee the fund’s classroom grant program and support established community traditions, including the Highlight a Hero campaign and the organization’s annual gala.
She will also focus on strengthening connections among families, educators, volunteers and donors across the district.
Founded in 2003, the Wayzata Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching and supporting educational experiences for students and staff throughout Wayzata Public Schools.
The organization provides grants for programs and opportunities that align with the district’s strategic roadmap but extend beyond what can be funded through the regular school budget.
Wayzata Public Schools’ outgoing and incoming superintendents appeared together before the Wayzata City Council on June 16, marking the district’s approaching leadership transition.
Dr. Chace Anderson, who is retiring after 18 years as superintendent and 43 years in education, introduced Dr. Robb Virgin, who will officially become superintendent July 1.
Anderson used the appearance to thank Mayor Andrew Mullin, City Council members, city staff and previous city leaders for their longstanding relationship with the school district.
“We so much appreciate the collaboration and the work that we’ve done together over the years on a number of projects,” Anderson said.
He reflected on the changes that have taken place in downtown Wayzata and throughout the surrounding community during his tenure. Anderson said the city and school district have worked as strategic partners while serving many of the same residents, students and families.
“I’m finding myself in this feeling of gratitude,” Anderson said as he thanked city leaders for their kindness, collaboration and work on behalf of the community.
Introducing Virgin was among Anderson’s final responsibilities before completing the leadership transition. Anderson said he has known Virgin for several years and was pleased with the School Board’s selection, although he was not involved in the superintendent search.
Virgin Credits Anderson and District Leadership
Virgin thanked Anderson and the district’s leadership team for providing mentorship and helping prepare him for the new position.
He said Anderson’s commitment to an orderly transition has allowed him to enter a school district that has been carefully led and positioned for continued success.
Virgin also told the council that he feels fortunate to be joining a district with strong relationships among its schools, cities and other community organizations.
“Great communities are built on those partnerships,” Virgin said. “When our leadership teams work together, all of our residents, our students, our families, everybody, our business, everybody benefits from that.”
Virgin committed to continuing the district’s relationship with the City of Wayzata and invited council members and staff to contact him when the district may be able to assist with the city’s work.
“Please don’t hesitate to be in touch,” Virgin said.
Virgin Shares His Educational Background
Virgin began his career as a social studies teacher in Wisconsin and later taught in Farmington. He also coached basketball, soccer and track and field.
His professional experience has included teaching courses at the University of Minnesota, supervising student teachers, serving as a high school principal and working in district administration.
Virgin recalled meeting Anderson while the two educators were attending a state swimming meet at the University of Minnesota. At the time, Virgin was working toward his doctorate and questioning whether he would finish the program. He said Anderson encouraged him to develop a plan and complete the degree.
Virgin most recently served as an assistant superintendent in Eden Prairie Schools.
He told the council that Wayzata Public Schools’ established culture was among the qualities that attracted him to the superintendent position. Virgin described the district as having “a commitment to just everyday sustained excellence” that has produced a strong environment for students and staff year after year.
Virgin said his work in neighboring districts, along with relationships with colleagues and families familiar with Wayzata Public Schools, had already given him an appreciation for the district.
He will formally assume the superintendent position July 1.
The direct quotes come from Anderson’s opening remarks, Virgin’s comments about community partnerships and Virgin’s description of the district’s culture. The more distorted portions of the transcript remain paraphrased.
“Wayzata High School students visited the WestHealth Surgery Center in Plymouth to learn more about orthopedic surgery. Doctors and health care leaders hope this inspires students and begins to address a looming surgeon shortage.” via CCX Media.
District says internal systems were not breached; names, emails, student ID numbers and Canvas messages may have been involved
Wayzata Public Schools notified families Monday, May 4, of a security incident involving Instructure, the parent company of Canvas, the learning management system used by district students in grades 4–12.
In a notice sent by Technology Services through ParentSquare, the district said Instructure notified Wayzata Public Schools on May 1 that an unauthorized party had gained access to certain systems within Instructure’s environment.
“This was a vendor-side incident,” the district wrote. “The internal networks and systems of Wayzata Public Schools were not breached or compromised.”
According to the district notice, information potentially involved includes student and staff names, email addresses, student ID numbers and internal messages sent between users within the Canvas platform. The notice said Instructure found no evidence that passwords, dates of birth, government identifiers such as Social Security numbers, or financial information were involved.
Instructure’s public status page also identified the matter as a “Confirmed Security Incident.” In an update posted May 2, Instructure Chief Information Security Officer Steve Proud said the company believed the incident had been contained and had taken steps including revoking privileged credentials and access tokens, deploying patches, rotating certain keys as a precaution and increasing monitoring across its platforms.
Wayzata Public Schools said it has activated its District Incident Response Team, remained in communication with the vendor for forensic updates and initiated a review of internal security protocols.
Families were encouraged to remain alert for phishing attempts, particularly unsolicited emails or messages appearing to come from Canvas and asking for personal information or password resets. The district also advised families to monitor student school-related accounts for unusual activity.
The district said it will provide further updates if new information becomes available. Families with questions may contact the Wayzata Technology Department at 763-745-5100.
Wayzata Public Schools voters approved the district’s bond referendum in an off-cycle election, backing all three ballot questions — including the district’s main $465 million school building bond request. Unlike a general election held alongside broader federal, state, or local races, the vote was decided in a standalone school district election focused specifically on the referendum questions.
The centerpiece measure, School District Question 2, passed with 5,650 votes in favor and 2,385 opposed, or 70.32 percent to 29.68 percent. That question authorized the district to issue up to $465 million in general obligation school building bonds for projects including a new elementary school, a new middle school, an addition to Wayzata High School, safety and security improvements, and other capital work across the district.
Voters also approved School District Question 1, renewing the district’s expiring capital project levy for technology. That measure passed 6,283 to 1,751, or 78.21 percent to 21.79 percent. According to the district’s election results, the levy renewal will provide funding for software and technology equipment, along with technology support and maintenance, and is projected to raise about $7,039,362 annually for taxes first levied in 2029 and payable in 2030, for a total of roughly $70.4 million over 10 years.
Question 3 also passed, with 4,850 yes votes and 3,169 no votes, or 60.48 percent to 39.52 percent. That question, which was contingent on passage of Question 2, authorizes up to $31 million in additional bonding for construction of an 8-lane swimming and diving pool.
The main bond question carried at all five polling locations listed in the district’s results. Hamel Community Center voted 1,477 to 469 in favor. Wayzata Creekside Building supported it 925 to 349. At Wayzata City Hall, the vote was 980 to 670. Plymouth Community Center Room A backed the measure 1,350 to 458, while Plymouth Community Center Room B supported it 918 to 439.
With all three questions now approved, the district has voter authorization to move forward with a major package of facility, technology, and athletic infrastructure investments.
Wayzata Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Chace Anderson presents details of the district’s proposed April 14 referendum during a community information session March 4 at the Creekside building in Plymouth. About 20 residents attended the two-hour meeting and asked questions about the proposal.
Wayzata Public Schools officials outlined details of a proposed facilities referendum during a March 4 community information session at the district’s Creekside building in Plymouth. The proposal, which voters will decide April 14, could invest nearly half a billion dollars in new school construction, facility improvements, and a new swimming pool across the district.
Wayzata Public Schools serves one of the fastest-growing areas in the Twin Cities metro. The district currently enrolls roughly 13,000 students across eight elementary schools, three middle schools and Wayzata High School. District leaders say continued residential development and family turnover in western Hennepin County have steadily added students in recent years, putting pressure on classroom space and shared learning areas in several buildings.
According to the district’s FY 2024–25 audited financial statements, Wayzata Public Schools currently reports approximately $411 million in land and building assets. Because school district property is tax-exempt, those facilities do not carry the same taxable market value assigned to residential or commercial properties. The $411 million figure also reflects accounting depreciation of existing buildings rather than their full replacement cost. If approved, the proposed referendum — which approaches $500 million in new construction and improvements — would represent a major expansion of the district’s physical infrastructure relative to the depreciated value currently reported on its balance sheet.
Superintendent Dr. Chace Anderson led the presentation and answered questions from residents during the two-hour session. Attendance appeared modest, with roughly 20 community members present for the meeting.
Dr. Chace Andeson.
The Referendum Overview
Voters in the Wayzata Public Schools district will be asked to decide three separate questions on the April 14 ballot, each addressing different aspects of district funding and facilities.
Question 1 asks voters to renew the district’s existing technology levy. District officials said this renewal would maintain current funding levels for technology, safety, and security systems without increasing property taxes and is worth about $15 per month on a typical $650,000 home or $1,800 over 10 years.
Question 2 is the largest portion of the proposal and focuses on facilities and capacity needs. The request would fund construction of a new elementary school and a new middle school, an expansion at Wayzata High School designed to accommodate additional students and support career and technical education programs, and a range of improvements to existing school buildings across the district. The district estimates the facilities request would add about $29 per month in property taxes for a typical $650,000 home or $8,700 over 25 years.
Question 3 asks voters to approve construction of a new eight-lane swimming pool at Wayzata High School. This question is contingent on approval of Question 2. If approved, the district estimates the pool would add about $4 per month to the property taxes of a typical home or $1,200 over 25 years.
Taken together, the proposed investments represent nearly $500 million in construction and improvements across the district’s facilities, making it one of the larger school referendum proposals in Minnesota in recent years.
District’s Case for the Referendum
In his presentation, Superintendent Dr. Chace Anderson said the district’s referendum request is rooted in continued resident enrollment growth and the need to add space before schools become overcrowded. Wayzata Public Schools currently serves about 13,000 K-12 students, and Anderson said capacity pressures are expected to intensify quickly. “By the 27-28 school year we’re anticipating that the elementary, middle school and high school will be beyond that capacity to accommodate the number of students that we’ll have, so it’s only two years out,” he said.
Anderson argued that the district cannot wait until buildings are already over capacity to act. He said planning, design, construction, and attendance boundary changes take years, making advance action necessary. He also pointed to the district’s earlier efforts to expand existing buildings before proposing new construction, including additions at several elementary schools and the opening of Meadow Ridge Elementary in 2016 and North Woods Elementary in 2019.
A second major point in Anderson’s remarks was that the district’s planning is tied to resident growth, not open enrollment. “We have been building to accommodate our resident students,” he said, pushing back on the idea that the district is proposing new facilities to serve students from outside district boundaries.
Anderson also emphasized the district’s financial position, noting that Wayzata is one of only a few school districts in Minnesota with a AAA bond rating. He said that rating reflects financial stability and allows the district to borrow at lower interest rates, helping reduce long-term costs for both residential and commercial taxpayers.
Beyond capacity, Anderson said the referendum is intended to support broader educational goals across the district. Those include creating additional career and technical education space at the high school, updating classrooms and shared learning areas, improving safety and security systems, and renewing the district’s technology levy so devices, software, internet access, and technical support can continue without a tax increase under Question 1.
Audience Questions Focus on Cost, Growth, and Communication
Communication and Enrollment Questions
One attendee, who said her children had been educated in Wayzata Public Schools, opened her remarks by noting that she believed the district had served families well but raised several concerns about the referendum process. “My kids were well served in this district,” she said.
She questioned whether the referendum had been widely communicated across the district, saying she had only recently learned about the proposal after receiving a mailed flyer. “I very much disagree that it was well communicated,” she said. She also raised questions about the district’s community survey, asking what percentage of households were represented by the approximately 400 responses referenced in the presentation.
The attendee further questioned the district’s enrollment projections, noting that while the district expects continued growth, some projections suggest enrollment could begin leveling off within the next decade. She also expressed skepticism about relying on outside consultants involved in construction planning, arguing that firms connected to building projects may have financial incentives that favor expansion.
Cost, Growth and Long-Term Planning
Former Wayzata School Board member Greg Baufield raised a series of questions focused on the scale of the proposal, long-term financial obligations, and infrastructure concerns.
Baufield noted that the combined ballot questions would represent one of the largest school bonding requests in Minnesota history and asked district leaders to consider the cumulative impact of rising taxes, insurance costs, and other household expenses facing residents.
He also questioned the timing of the April referendum and whether the district had coordinated with local governments, noting that property taxes are influenced by decisions made by school districts, cities, and counties simultaneously.
Baufield also raised a practical concern about the proposed Medina-area site: transportation safety. He noted that Highway 55 serves as the primary corridor in the area and runs alongside a railroad line, creating a potentially difficult traffic pattern for school transportation. Baufield warned that buses approaching the crossings would need sufficient room to come to a complete stop and queue safely, saying, “The challenge is of course is that 55 is a state highway,” and later adding that “there’s not enough space to prepare or stop across the tracks safely” if multiple buses are arriving at once.
Medina site that shows the railroad tracks to the north of the property.. Image courtesy of Hennepin County.
In follow-up responses, district officials said a traffic study had been conducted in collaboration with the City of Medina, Hennepin County and the State of Minnesota. Potential solutions include extended turn lanes on Highway 55 and enhanced railroad crossing safety measures.
Baufield also questioned the proposal to build a new eight-lane swimming pool at Wayzata High School, expressing concern about the long-term operational costs of maintaining athletic facilities and warning that those expenses can place financial pressure on future school boards.
More broadly, Baufield said he was concerned about relying too heavily on long-range enrollment projections, noting that other districts have experienced declining enrollment after expanding facilities.
Other Questions About Cost, Scope and Long-Term Planning
Another attendee said the overall proposal felt too large for many residents to absorb, repeatedly returning to the fact that the combined package approaches half a billion dollars. She questioned whether the district had done enough to separate essential educational needs from what she viewed as lower-priority improvements, suggesting the facilities request could have been broken into smaller pieces so voters could weigh them individually. She also voiced concern about rising property taxes and broader household financial pressures, and wondered whether the district had fully explored ways to make better use of existing space before asking voters to fund so much new construction.
That same speaker also raised broader skepticism about long-term spending commitments, including the ongoing cost of maintaining new facilities such as a swimming pool, and questioned whether future policy shifts — including school-choice trends — could affect enrollment assumptions over time.
Later in the meeting, additional questions focused on providing clearer context for taxpayers. One question asked district officials to explain what the estimated monthly tax impact would represent as a percentage increase for a typical homeowner, rather than only presenting the change as a dollar amount. Another question asked how the value of the proposed improvements compares to the district’s existing land and buildings, noting that such context could help residents better understand the overall scale of the investment.
Overall, beyond the more detailed questions raised earlier in the meeting, the remaining comments reflected a common theme: residents wanted clearer financial context, more distinction between core needs and optional projects, and greater confidence that the size of the referendum matches the district’s long-term needs.
Superintendent Responds to Questions
In responding to questions from residents, Superintendent Dr. Chace Anderson emphasized that the district’s facilities planning is based primarily on continued growth in the number of resident students.
Anderson said Wayzata Public Schools has historically exceeded enrollment projections, noting that past forecasts have often underestimated how quickly new housing and family turnover bring additional students into the district.
He pointed to the district’s two newest elementary schools as examples. Meadow Ridge Elementary, which opened in 2016, and North Woods Elementary, which opened in 2019, both filled quickly after opening. Anderson said the district now has roughly 800 students in each of those schools, adding that without those facilities the district would have struggled to accommodate the additional enrollment.
Anderson said the district is trying to avoid waiting until schools are already overcrowded before beginning construction. Planning, design, and construction can take several years, he noted, meaning decisions must be made well in advance of when additional classroom space is needed.
He also stressed that the referendum process is the primary mechanism available to public school districts in Minnesota to fund new construction and major facility improvements. District leaders, he said, are responsible for planning ahead to ensure adequate space for students as the community continues to grow.
Follow up Questions
In follow-up questions after the meeting, Wayzata.com asked district officials how confident they are that residents across the district fully understand the scope of the referendum and its potential tax impact.
District leaders said it is difficult to measure whether the community “fully understands” a proposal of this scale, but noted that the district has attempted to provide information through multiple channels. Officials said the district has mailed referendum information to every household in the district, posted detailed materials online, and conducted presentations at schools and community meetings in the months leading up to the April vote.
In follow-up information provided after the meeting, district officials said the projected school district property tax on a $650,000 home would be about $2,826 annually in 2026. If both the facilities referendum and swimming pool question are approved, the district estimates the tax impact would increase by about $33 per month, or $396 per year for that same home.
In contrast, many homeowners across western Hennepin County have experienced double-digit increases in total property tax bills in multiple recent years, driven by rising assessed values and levies from multiple taxing jurisdictions, including cities, counties, and special districts. District officials said they are not able to calculate a comprehensive “all-in” tax bill for residents because the Wayzata school district spans multiple cities and overlapping taxing authorities, resulting in at least 20 different combinations of total property tax rates.
When asked whether existing buildings such as Armstrong High School could potentially be purchased or leased to add capacity, district officials said they were not aware that the building is available and noted that most enrollment growth is occurring on the western side of the district, particularly in Medina and Corcoran.
Conclusion
Despite the scale of the proposal, attendance at the information session appeared modest, with roughly 20 community members present for the two-hour meeting at the district’s Creekside facility in Plymouth.
The proposal now moves to voters across the Wayzata Public Schools district, who will decide the outcome when the referendum appears on the ballot in a special election scheduled for April 14.
How to Vote
Residents of the Wayzata Public Schools district will vote on the referendum in a special election on April 14, 2026.
Vote early by mail: Voters may request an absentee ballot to vote by mail. Applications and additional information are available at mnvotes.org.
Vote early in person: Early in-person voting is available at the Wayzata Public Schools District Service Center 13305 12th Avenue N, Plymouth, MN 55441
Feb. 27 – April 13: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 11: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Vote on Election Day: Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Wayzata School Board has selected Dr. Robb Virgin as the next superintendent of Wayzata Public Schools, pending successful contract negotiations. If finalized, Virgin is expected to begin his role on July 1, 2026.
School Board Chair Dr. Milind Sohoni said the board focused on identifying a leader who reflects the district’s long-standing commitment to excellence.
“We were focused on finding a leader who shares our community’s commitment to student success, strong partnerships with staff and families, and continued excellence in our schools,” Sohoni said. “We look forward to working together to build on the district’s strong foundation, and support every student in reaching their full potential.”
Virgin currently serves as Assistant Superintendent for Eden Prairie Schools, where he oversees principals and district directors responsible for programs serving students from Pre-K through age 22. Eden Prairie Schools enrolls approximately 9,400 students.
“I’m honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve the Wayzata Public Schools community,” Virgin said. “This is a district with an extraordinary reputation that has been so well cared for, and I’m excited to partner with students, staff, families, and the School Board to continue building on its legacy of excellence. I look forward to listening, learning, and moving forward together.”
In his current role, Virgin is a member of Eden Prairie’s Executive Cabinet, helping align district budgets, staffing, and strategic initiatives with school board priorities and long-term goals. The district recently reached its highest enrollment in 15 years, according to school officials.
Over more than 20 years in public education, Virgin has served in multiple leadership roles, including high school principal, executive director of learning and innovation, assistant principal, teacher, and instructional coach. As principal of a high school serving roughly 3,000 students, he led efforts that improved graduation rates and expanded access to advanced coursework.
At the district level, his work has included oversight of curriculum and instructional systems, special services, technology integration, multilingual programming, and learning analytics. He has also supported strategic initiatives related to campus expansion and long-term district planning.
Virgin has served as Acting Superintendent during superintendent absences, providing continuity in executive leadership.
He holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, along with a superintendent license from the university. He also earned a Master of Education and a Pre-K–12 Administration Certificate from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Arts in History, Education Studies, and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.
The School Board will now begin negotiating a contract with Virgin. District leaders said additional details will be shared in the coming months as the transition process moves forward.
Wayzata Public Schools serves roughly 13,000 students across eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and Wayzata High School.
The Wayzata School Board on Monday night unanimously selected three finalists to interview for the district’s next superintendent, narrowing a pool of 20 applicants after weeks of screening and community engagement.
The finalists are:
Dr. Rainey Briggs, Chief Operations Officer, Des Moines Public Schools
Dr. Robb Virgin, Assistant Superintendent, Eden Prairie Schools
Six semi-finalists were interviewed by a School Board subcommittee on February 25 and 26 before the board advanced the final three.
Community Engagement Built Into the Process
Each finalist will take part in “A Day in the District” on Thursday, March 5. The schedule includes tours of four Wayzata school buildings and a large-group interview with a representative cross-section of the school community.
District employees, parents, and members of advisory groups—drawn from earlier superintendent search focus groups—will participate. Wayzata students will assist principals in leading the building tours, offering candidates a firsthand look at classrooms and school culture.
Feedback gathered during Thursday’s events will be summarized and shared with the School Board following the final interviews.
Final Interviews Friday at Creekside
The board’s formal interviews with each candidate will begin at 8:30 a.m. Friday, March 6, at the District’s Creekside Building (16000 41st Ave. N., Plymouth). The interviews are open to the public.
To ensure a fair and consistent process, the district will not livestream the interviews. Recordings will be posted after the interviews conclude and will remain available through Sunday, March 15. The lone finalist’s interview will stay posted indefinitely.
“Our community’s voice is an essential part of this process,” said School Board Chair Dr. Milind Sohoni. “We look forward to engaging staff, students, families and community members on March 5, as we move forward to selecting the next leader of Wayzata Public Schools.”
What Comes Next
Following Friday’s interviews and review of community feedback, the board is expected to name a lone finalist in the coming days. The selection will mark a pivotal transition for one of Minnesota’s highest-performing school districts—and for the thousands of students and families who call Wayzata Public Schools home.
Information session set for March 4; residents encouraged to review details and ask questions
Wayzata Public Schools voters will weigh three funding questions on April 14, 2026, following School Board approval to place the requests on the ballot.
According to the official notice mailed to residents, the ballot will include:
Question 1: Renewal of the district’s existing technology levy.
Question 2: Approval of school building bonds for growth and facilities needs.
Question 3: Approval of bond funding for a new 8-lane swimming pool at Wayzata High School.
An information session is scheduled for March 4, 2026, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. at the Creekside Building in Plymouth.
As the district begins community presentations, Superintendent Chace Anderson has emphasized continued enrollment growth, long-term planning, and the district’s AAA bond rating as indicators of financial strength and readiness to move forward.
At recent meetings, Anderson pointed to a steady increase from roughly 10,500 students in 2012–13 to approximately 13,000 students this school year, with projections suggesting continued growth. He noted that facilities planning has been underway for years and referenced a positive Review & Comment response from the Minnesota Department of Education.
The district’s published materials state that:
Question 1 is a renewal of an expiring capital projects levy for technology and would not increase taxes beyond current levels.
Question 2 would authorize up to $465 million in bonds for a new elementary school, a new middle school, high school additions, safety and security improvements, and other capital projects.
The tax increase on the average homeowner is estimated at $29 per month, with a calculator available online.
A Community That Values Its Schools
Survey results cited by the district indicate strong support for school quality, with respondents linking school excellence to home values. That sentiment aligns with Wayzata’s long history of civic investment in education, from early schoolhouses in the 19th century to the expansions of recent decades.
Few communities place higher value on their public schools — and few communities understand as clearly how school performance intersects with property values.
That context makes thoughtful engagement especially important.
Questions Worth Asking
While the district’s materials outline projected tax increases in dollar terms, some residents have raised additional financial questions that may help voters fully understand the proposal.
Among them:
1. What are homeowners currently paying to the district? Property tax statements break out the portion that goes directly to Wayzata Public Schools. For many households, that figure ranges into the thousands annually, depending on home value and city.
Understanding that baseline allows voters to calculate:
What percentage increase the proposed bond represents relative to the current school-district portion.
What percentage increase it represents relative to the total property tax bill.
The mailed materials provide dollar impact estimates but do not show the percentage increase relative to current taxes.
2. How does this compare to prior referendums? Wayzata voters have historically supported school investments. How does the proposed borrowing compare in scale and tax impact to previous measures?
3. What portion addresses growth versus maintenance? The bond language references new construction, additions, safety upgrades, and essential improvements. Residents may wish to understand the breakdown between capacity expansion and infrastructure upkeep.
4. What are the enrollment sensitivities? Superintendent Anderson presented multiple growth scenarios — ranging from 25% to 100% of historical growth rates. Even under slower growth projections, district enrollment would exceed current capacity within the next decade.
Still, projections inherently carry uncertainty. Voters may wish to ask how the district would adapt if growth slows or accelerates beyond expectations.
Encouraging Informed Participation
The March 4 information session offers residents an opportunity to hear directly from district leaders and review supporting materials.
A practical suggestion for attendees: bring a recent property tax statement. Knowing the current school-district portion allows for clearer understanding of how any increase would affect a specific household.
As always in Wayzata, the conversation need not be adversarial to be thoughtful. Supporting strong schools and asking careful financial questions are not mutually exclusive positions.
With early voting beginning February 27 and Election Day set for April 14, residents have several weeks to review the details and engage in discussion.
In a community shaped by both lakefront heritage and long-range planning, informed civic participation remains one of Wayzata’s defining traits.
With enrollment continuing to surge across the district and school buildings projected to exceed capacity as soon as the 2027–28 school year, the Wayzata School Board voted 6–1 on November 10 to advance long-range facilities planning toward a potential 2026 bond referendum, with Valentina Eyres casting the lone dissenting vote.
The discussion marked the culmination of more than a year of study by district leadership, architects from Wold, construction partners from Kraus-Anderson, and a 20-member Community Task Force representing a cross-section of parent, advisory, and civic groups.
District administrators presented updated enrollment projections showing steady growth at every level.
According to district data, Wayzata Public Schools’ 2025–26 total capacity is 13,029, and projections show enrollment climbing above 14,000 students by 2029–30.
Even using a conservative planning model:
Elementary schools exceed the 90% utilization threshold beginning in 2027–28
Middle schools exceed recommended 87.5% capacity during the same window
Wayzata High School—already one of Minnesota’s largest—continues to grow toward 4,900 students
District leadership stressed that capacity standards are not simply enrollment numbers; each building must operate with some available space for programming changes, special education, and academic interventions.
Over the past decade, the district has added North Woods Elementary, expanded Meadow Ridge, built the Early Learning School, and purchased or repurposed multiple administrative facilities. But continued population growth across Plymouth and Medina is driving new pressure.
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Task Force Recommends a Multi-Site Expansion Strategy
The Community Task Force met four times in September and October to study enrollment, walk through building capacities, and examine possible options. Members represented district advisory councils, early learning, special education, Indigenous community members, and finance groups.
Their recommendation, presented to the Board, includes:
Elementary additions to increase total K–5 capacity
Reducing enrollment at Central Middle School and shifting boundaries or adding space to bring it closer to a recommended 1,200-student max
Expanding Wayzata High School to meet 9–12 growth while maintaining program breadth
Districtwide safety and security upgrades, including video systems, visitor verification, access control, and modern classroom lockdown capabilities
Additional cafeteria, media center, or circulation improvements where older buildings face space constraints
Phased construction to avoid excessive disruption and ensure operational continuity
Administrators emphasized that facility needs span both classroom space and security modernization. District leaders noted that hardware, software, and emergency communication systems reach end-of-life on a predictable cycle and must be upgraded to meet current standards.
Safety & Security: A Core Component of Any Referendum
A significant portion of the workshop focused on site safety, including:
Upgraded video intercom systems for secure main entrances
Districtwide electronic access control for staff
Improved visitor management systems
Expansive interior and exterior camera coverage
Inside-locking classroom doors and instant lockdown buttons
Unified emergency communication and mass-notification tools
The district framed these measures as a “future-focused physical security framework,” consistent across all 19 buildings.
Timeline: Board Must Act Quickly
For the district to place a referendum on the ballot in 2026, it must meet state review deadlines.
Key dates:
November 25, 2025 — Deadline to submit Review & Comment to MDE
January 2026 — Deadline for the Board to certify ballot language
February–April 2026 — Community meetings and public information sessions
Spring 2026 — Possible referendum vote
If approved, construction would occur in phases from 2027–2029.
What Happens Next
The School Board is expected to revisit the recommendation at its next regular meeting, where it may vote to authorize the Review & Comment submission.
If approved, the district will begin drafting detailed cost estimates, bond scenarios, and project phasing plans for public review.
Wayzata.com will continue to cover the process as the district refines both the scope and the question(s) that may ultimately appear on the 2026 ballot.
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