Henning School Referendum Supporters

08/23/2023

This is very disappointing.

The Henning School Building will be closed on Wednesday, August 23 due to safety concerns of the building floor conditions (high humidity).

- No New Student Orientation for grades 6-12 (postponed until Thursday, August 24 @ 3:30 in the library meeting room.

- No Locker Sign-up

- No Teacher Flex Day option

- No Fitness Center availability

- Jr. High Football Equipment Handout tonight will enter at Door #18 only

*We are planning to reopen on Thursday, August 24

05/10/2023

Henning Public School District voters have rejected the referendum to invest in deferred maintenance, renovations, additions, and a new full-size gymnasium at our school building. Preliminary vote totals are:

Question One
YES ✅: 497 NO ❌: 739
Question Two
YES ✅: 470 NO ❌: 765

We respect the outcome of this community decision. Looking ahead, the school board will again explore an array of options to address the continuing needs of our building. Thank you to everyone who voted and offered feedback throughout this process.

05/09/2023

🤗 T H A N K Y O U
to the many that shared their voices!

05/09/2023

🚨E L E C T I O N D A Y🚨
Hey Supporters👋🏻
In order to pass this thing, you need to
G O V O T E
(and make sure your family,
neighbors, and friends vote too)!

J O I N U S

🕖 Voting will be open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM.

📍All voters will vote at Henning City Hall:

Henning City Hall
612 Front Street
Henning, MN 56551

®️You must be registered to vote to cast your ballot. If you forget to register before Election Day, Minnesota allows same-day voter registration.

05/09/2023

🚩 O U R 🏚️
B U I L D I N G
N E E D S 🏳️
🏫
🆘

⭐️Elementary classrooms

🏴‍☠️
🗝️Ranging from 50 to 70 years of age, our oldest classrooms require renovations to meet today’s standards.
🤯
🚩Classroom cabinets and furniture in the oldest sections of the building were installed in 1955 and 1968.
😫
🚽Due to lack of storage, some teachers must use abandoned bathrooms to store supplies and equipment.

For more information, please visit: www.ourschoolourhornets.org/need

05/08/2023

“Hello, my name is Katie Johnson. I was born and raised here in Henning. I was extremely blessed to be able to attend the Henning school from the day I started preschool until the day I got my high school diploma. I’m currently in my second year working at the school as a paraprofessional which has been an incredible privilege. I see and experience the conditions of the school firsthand each and every day and yes, I could list all of the work that needs to be done, but that’s not what this testimonial is about. It’s about your voice. It’s about your vote.

I’m 23. I live at home with my parents because everything costs a billion dollars these days and it’s a two minute walk to work. Because I don’t own my own home, I can’t speak on the financial aspects of this proposal. I don’t have children that go to the school, so I can’t speak on that either. But what I can speak on is why people my age (and everyone in this community, really) should care about this referendum.

In regards to the referendum, I have seen the “we got by with less, so they should be able to do so too” sentiment going around. While this may be a reality for some, this point of view can be very harmful. It doesn’t have to be everyone’s reality. I strongly believe that it’s our duty to leave the world better than we found it. If that means passing a referendum so that our students can thrive in a safe environment, then what are we waiting for?

To people my age and in similar life circumstances, you may think that your voice doesn’t matter. I promise you, your voice matters. Your vote matters. If this referendum doesn’t directly impact you, it’s very likely that it impacts someone in your life. If you feel like you can’t vote yes for yourself, then vote yes for your younger sibling or cousin that’s still in school so that they may have a higher quality education. Vote yes for your relative that’s a teacher who is showing up day in and day out in these conditions to ensure the safety and success of their students. Vote yes for your friend that’s a paraprofessional or office staff member who is doing whatever they can to support students and fellow staff members in this environment. Vote yes for the futures of your friends and families. Vote yes for the future of this school and community like it depends on it. Because it does.”

—Katie Johnson

05/08/2023

“As a recent graduate, I have personally experienced the great culture the Henning School can offer. Our teachers and staff go above and beyond to educate students to be successful in the future. However, some parts of the school building do not allow students to have an optimal learning environment. Some classrooms have required buckets to catch leaking water or do not have proper ventilation or temperature control. A few do not have adequate natural lighting or even any natural light at all. Our referendum, if passed, will assist in fixing all these issues.

As a student who was very involved in extracurricular activities, I can see firsthand how the referendum will benefit all students. The new gym will be safer for athletes and more enjoyable for spectators. At times, the gym floor was so slippery, we had to postpone or move practices or games. The updated theater equipment will also benefit students involved in the arts.

The passing of this referendum will mean so much to our current and future generations. As a young adult who will be staying in the Henning area, I pray that my future children will have a safe, positive learning environment. For a few extra dollars a day, we will improve the daily lives and educational experience for hundreds or thousands of children in our small, supportive community. It will benefit students with regards to academics, arts, and athletics. Please say YES YES to the referendum to give my future children a great school environment with endless extracurricular opportunities.”

— Paige Wallevand

05/08/2023

“Justin and I moved to Henning in 2005 to open our fiberglass manufacturing business. When we moved here, we had no thoughts of building a business with a physical location in Henning. We assumed we would just keep our small shop out at our house. Plans changed when our business outgrew that building so, we looked at industrial parks to build. We looked in Perham and New York Mills, but ultimately decided to stay in Henning, where we purchased a lot in the industrial park so we could build our business locally. At that time our kids were small. Emmalyn was in 1st grade. When deciding where to send our children to school, we thought maybe it would be better to belong to a larger school district, but we decided we liked what Henning had to offer. We hoped we would come to know the teachers and a lot of the families easier than in a larger school district and that has proven true. Despite the great faculty and amazing families, as our kids are growing and have gotten more involved in the school, we have noticed the updates and renovations this school so desperately needs.

This referendum is important for the Henning community and its future. Through the years, many employees we have hired have moved their families to this community and now call Henning their home. We employ 10-15 people on average through our business. Since we are a small employer, we are optimistic that the community and school stay vibrant so we can continue to attract employees to this area and our business. The school is Henning’s largest employer with 77 employees, not including school board members, coaches or substitute teachers. If you are considering voting no, please pause and consider the impact to our community if we lost our biggest employer? Fifty-five of the school employees live in the district and they have 59 kids that go to Henning School. We currently have 55 kids who live out of our school district but that choose to open enroll here. That is 55 kids who could easily go to any school around us if our community doesn’t prioritize what the district has identified as needs and priorities.

When you own a home, you naturally fix things that need fixing. A lot of band aids are usually used until eventually it needs replacing. Our school is the same way. We have placed many band aids around the school and now is the time to make repairs beyond band aids.

From when we started our business 18 years ago to present, we have seen many drastic changes in the industry, especially in the last three years. As an employer, you have to find ways to move with the changing times. We have developed new technologies to improve the way we produce our products. With open-enrollment, schools are businesses to some degree now too. I can’t imagine what the school has to do to make sure we are competitive to keep kids in our district and to attract kids to our school. The way our kids learn is so different then when I went to school. Our kids deserve better than what the facility at Henning School is currently able to offer. Kids spend a better part of their lives before the age of 18 at school. We can keep kicking the can down the road, but if we keep doing so, the costs will keep rising and the needs will only become more intense. Now is the time to invest in the future of our kids and to invest in our community.

As a small business owner, I recognize we have the highest tax rate in Henning and, yet, we are fully and completely in support of this referendum and plan. We recognize that the benefits of a safe, vibrant school and a strong, booming community will ultimately have positive fiscal impacts on our business with the added bonus of investing in the education and experience of our kids. Please vote YES YES!”

—Lara Bergstrom

05/07/2023

“As a couple, we chose to retire in the area fourteen years ago, not only because of the lakes, but because of the strong sense of community that Henning has. Even though we had no children attend Henning School, we enjoy getting to know the youth through school activities. We feel that without approval of this referendum, the dynamics of the community will suffer in the long run.”

-Jim and Brenda Brown

05/07/2023

🚩 O U R 🏚️
B U I L D I N G
N E E D S 🏳️
🏫
🆘

⭐️HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)

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🩻Aging heating and ventilation systems reduce air quality in the oldest sections of our building, especially the elementary classrooms and the high school gym.
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🥶 With limited temperature control and lack of air conditioning, spaces within the building do not provide the environment needed for optimal learning.
😮‍💨
💨Our wood shop has no ventilation.

For more information, please visit: www.ourschoolourhornets.org/need

05/07/2023

“At the start of this process, I was one of the students who took part in listening sessions to determine issues within our school. After seeing the plans in question 1 and 2, I’m happy to say these needs are being addressed.

Although I am unable to experience the benefits of these changes in my high school career, I do hope that my younger siblings, Beck and Evie, can. Vote yes, yes to give them that experience!”

—Lila Thorson, Henning High School Sophomore

05/06/2023

“When our oldest kids were preschoolers, the last building project took place. Once again, voters are being asked to invest in our students and increase school financial support. We are writing in hopes that you will consider voting yes-yes in the upcoming referendum. Two reasons stand out for us. First, the education of our students and second, the impact the school has on our community.

Our seven children, with wide ranging interests, abilities, and needs, have all attended the Henning School. A variety of teachers have assisted them academically in preparing for current/future vocations. Many activities, such as music, speech, trap team, the high mileage competition, and sports, also contributed to life learning. Although our time of having children at the Henning School is coming to a close (two left to graduate), we want to see future generations of children also receive a solid education from Henning.

We also know that the life of a town depends on the health/existence of the school. The school brings people together in the community. One doesn’t have to look too far to see what happens to towns when schools decline. A yes-yes vote for the referendum is also a yes-yes vote for the town. Yes-to commerce and yes-to connection.

No one wants increased taxes, but as we know with our own homes, things wear out and need updates. A safe, healthy building is necessary to provide an environment conducive to learning. Please consider a yes-yes vote-for students and the community.”
—Grant and Laura Smith