Unable to secure state funds in recent years, the Rushford-Peterson School Board has decided to move forward to construct a new school building anyway.
                 
The Tri-County Record reports the school board this week approved the construction of a new building to house pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The project would also include remodeling of the 106 year-old current high school and elementary school complex.  The estimated cost is $15 million.
                  
The district has sought grant money from the state legislature on several occasions, including this year, but has been unsuccessful.  The board also set a tentative bond referendum vote before the district residents for December 19th.

If the referendum were approved, construction would start in July of next year and last through July of 2014.  The project would also include relocating the Rushford-Peterson middle school in Peterson to the Rushford campus.  The new facility would be constructed on property the district owns near the Rushford athletic complex.

School officials met with Governor Mark Dayton last week to discuss funding. The paper says Dayton told the officials if money for a Rushford project were included in a disaster relief bill being considered at the special session Friday Dayton would sign it. But Dayton also said that is unlikely to occur by the Republican-controlled legislature.
                  
The Rushford request was not included in the special session agenda agreement signed by Dayton and legislative leaders.