Building Our Future

White Bear Lake Area Schools Facilities Process

On November 5, 2019, White Bear Lake Area School District voters approved a $326 million building bond request to address building needs across the district by a margin of 57.4% yes to 42.6% (unofficial results: 8,536 yes votes, 6,336 no votes). The bond funding will be used to:

  • address projected enrollment growth throughout the district;
  • provide safe, secure and healthy learning environments for all students through investments in our aging facilities and infrastructure;
  • increase opportunities for students by creating a single unified grades 9-12 high school;
  • and create flexibly-designed learning spaces to support student-centered instruction

Process

2023 Update

2022 Update

2021 Update

2020 Update

Project Updates

Facilities Process News Posts

invitation to Dec. 13 dedication

The WBLAHS gymnasium will be dedicated as Galvin Court, in honor of long-time coach, teacher, and community member Jim Galvin, before the first boys’ varsity home basketball game on Dec. 13. A 5:30 p.m. reception will take place near the gym in room 1021, with a 6:30 p.m. on-court ceremony to take place before the 7 p.m. Boys’ Varsity Basketball game vs. FLAHS. Game tickets can be purchased at www.isd624.org/tickets or at the door.

group of children in classroom

At the April 22 School Board Work Session, a video debuted that highlights students and staff members sharing their thoughts about the impact flexible furniture and common spaces have made on teaching and learning in White Bear Lake Area Schools. These facilities improvements were supported by the passage of the 2019 Bond Referendum.

group photo with Jim Galvin

Jim Galvin, long-time coach, teacher, and community member, has been honored by White Bear Lake Area Schools for his decades of service to the school community. The White Bear Lake Area School Board voted at its March 4, 2024 meeting to name the fully renovated White Bear Lake Area High School gymnasium “Galvin Court.”

community members touring WBLAHS Field House

The White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation hosted a fundraising breakfast in the White Bear Lake Area High School Union area. After enjoying a breakfast together and hearing district staff members describe ways the Foundation’s support has impacted various district programs and classrooms, attendees enjoyed tours of the completed portions of the building.

construction

A Building Our Future Update 2023 video was recently created and shared out to the community. This fourth annual update video provides an overview of progress that has been made across the district since the comprehensive facilities review and planning work began in 2018 and the community supported the Building Our Future Bond Referendum in 2019.

adult presenting information to adults

District leaders accompanied a team from Wold Architects and Engineers, the firm that designed the majority of the district’s construction projects made possible by the community’s support of the 2019 bond referendum, to present at the EDspaces “Designing the Future of Education” national conference. The annual event is described as the place where leaders and innovators unite to drive the future of learning environments, where technology, space and pedagogy converge.