2021 Restore & Renew

Thank you for helping us renew and restore our facilities!

On November 2, 2021, our community made a historic decision to restore and renew our district facilities! The passage of this $30 million bond referendum is allowing us to enact a plan to restore and renew our school facilities for future generations while maintaining fiscal responsibility for our tax payers.

We are currently working towards completion of these projects. Our goal is to have everything complete by 2025.

In the interest of transparency, we will be updating this site regularly with timelines of the projects and progress photos to fulfill our promises to the community.

Recent Project Highlights

Liberty (Library & Parking Lot)

Independence Remodel

We are currently in the middle of a multi-year renovation of Independence Elementary STEM. This initiative involves modernizing the outdated HVAC system, integrating contemporary amenities, technology, and equipment, as well as creating more flexible learning environments for our students.

Prior to the 2023-24 school year, we updated classrooms and HVAC systems in the wing wing of the building and created the framework for the new district office space, which was to be relocated to Independence from the high school in order to make room for the new high school fitness center. The District Office officially relocated to Independence in October 2023.

During the summer of 2024, our efforts turned to the east wing of the building. Besides additional classroom and HVAC improvements, we gave the old library new life, by turning it into a new Innovation Center and STEM Lab. The renovations allowed us to open up the Innovation Center for more than just library visits!

STEM Lab

Innovation Center (Media Center)

District Office

Other Independence Rennovations

High School (Innovation Lab & Collaborative Center)

Fitness Center

The new Hornet Fitness Center was completed in February 2024! See the "Fitness Center" dropdown below for more information.

Innovation Lab & Collaborative Center

At the beginning of the 23-24 school year, we opened up the new collaborative center and exploration lab at the high school. These areas contain multi-purpose spaces with emphasis on collaboration and flexibility, and reflect 21st century needs.

Improvements include:

new multi-purpose rooms, flexible workspaces, & makerspaces
a dedicated online learning room
areas for small, medium, and large group collaboration
more storage
right-size quantity of book stacks per grade level(s)
contemporary amenities, technology, and equipment.

Inside of Innovation Lab at Big Lake High School

Collaborative Center at Big Lake High School

Inside of Collaborative Center at Big Lake High School

High School Fitness Center

The new Fitness Center was revealed to students in February 2024, and is now available for public use!

Want to stop in and work out in the beautiful space on your own? Learn more about the fitness center and the affordable membership options here, and check out the Big Lake Community Education Catalog to learn about group classes and other opportunities!

Watch the Official Reveal!

Timelines

Liberty Elementary

Project	Timeline	Notes
Roof Replacement	Completed	Bid awarded to Palmer West Construction in the amount of $2,236,700. NAC Mechanical and Electrical awarded bid of $346,750 for disconnect and reconnect of all mechanical and electrical equipment.
Building Control System Replacement	Completed
Media Center Improvements	Completed
Parking Lot Improvements	Completed
Flexible Learning Spaces Additions	Completed
Professional fees, contingency costs and furniture, fixtures and equipment

Independence Elementary STEM

Project	Scheduled Start Date	Notes
Addition of Flexible Learning Spaces Relocation of District Office to Independence Building Control System Replacement Media Center Improvements HVAC System Replacement Contemporary amenities added in renovated areas	Completed	Contract Awarded to Ebert Construction $10,417,100 Renovations will be a multi-year project due to the size and scope of the project.
Replacements and Renovations to 1997 Addition (Updating replacing aging finishes and fixtures)	June 2025-August 2025
Professional fees, contingency costs and furniture, fixtures and equipment

Project

Scheduled Start Date

Notes

Addition of Flexible Learning Spaces

Relocation of District Office to Independence

Building Control System Replacement

Media Center Improvements

HVAC System Replacement

Contemporary amenities added in renovated areas

Completed

Contract Awarded to Ebert Construction $10,417,100

Renovations will be a multi-year project due to the size and scope of the project.

Replacements and Renovations to 1997 Addition (Updating replacing aging finishes and fixtures)

June 2025-August 2025

Professional fees, contingency costs and furniture, fixtures and equipment

Middle School

Project	Scheduled Start Date	Notes
Roof Replacement	Completed	Bid awarded to McDowall Company in the amount of $674,700. Signature Mechanical awarded bid of $25,000 for disconnect and reconnect of all mechanical and electrical equipment.
Media Center Improvements	Summer 2025
Improve Special Education Areas	Summer 2025
Flexible Learning Spaces Additions	Summer 2025
Add contemporary amenities, technology, and equipment in renovated areas.	Summer 2025
CTE and Future Ready Environment Improvements	Summer 2025
Professional fees, contingency costs and furniture, fixtures and equipment

High School

Project	Scheduled Start Date	Notes
Roof Replacement	Completed	Bid awarded to B.L. Dalsin Roofing in the amount of $1,031,745. McDowall Company awarded bid in the amount of $98,890 for disconnect and reconnect of all mechanical and electrical equipment.
Air Conditioning/Air Quality Improvements	Completed	Bid awarded to Northern Air Corporation in the amount of $1,427,623.
Building Controls Improvements	Completed
Improvements to media center and CTE/ Future Ready Environments Addition of Flexible Learning Spaces and a new fitness center Contemporary amenities added in renovated areas	Completed	Project awarded to Kue Construction for $2,988,003
Professional fees, contingency costs and furniture, fixtures and equipment

More Referendum Information

Referendum Video

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the projects being done?

Will this referendum add square footage to our buildings?

How old is the HVAC system at Independence Elementary?

What roofs need to be replaced?

Where will the High School fitness center be located?

What does it mean that "building controls" are no longer supported?

Aren't the high school activity spaces already air conditioned?

How is the referendum a $0 tax increase?

Why were these projects not on the 2016 Referendum?

Fast Facts about the Bond Referendum

It is important to be good stewards of the community's schools. Given the age of the buildings - it was time to make further investments into Big Lake Schools.

The last major investment in facilities was in 2016, and was primarily focused on improving safety and security, including updating surveillance cameras and remodeling entrances; expanding and improving playgrounds; as well as improving fine arts and athletic facility improvements, such as replacing auditorium equipment, pool equipment, adding permanent outdoor concession/restroom facilities, and installing ball field lighting.

When constructed in 2002, Liberty Elementary had a roof with a 15 year life span installed. The roof is now 19 years old and in need of replacement.
Portions of the Middle School roof, including the 1987 and 2001 additions, need replacing.
The 1981 HVAC system at Independence Elementary STEM is in need of replacement. This replacement would include better air quality handling systems as well as air conditioning.
High School activity spaces including the main gym and auxiliary gymnastics gym are not air conditioned and in need of dehumidification during peak use including the spring, summer, and fall time.
Special Education spaces at the Middle School were constructed in 1997 and are in need of redesign.
HVAC and building controls across the district are 24 years old. The computer systems they operate on are no longer able to support the aging control panels.

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