The proposed project for the Sherburne-Earlville School District was passed last week. The $32.8 million capital improvement project included increasing security, renovating the auditorium, adding a turf-football field and updating the Sherburne-Earlville Stadium along with many other improvements. (Submitted photo)

SHERBURNE – Residents of the Sherburne-Earlville school district went to the polls last week to vote on a $32.8 million capital improvement project. The project was approved with 90 votes in favor and 23 opposed to the project.

Sherburne-Earlville approved their last capital improvement project in 2022. With a price tag of $29 million, the project included updating the middle school/high school entrance to increase security, renovating the auditorium, adding a turf-football field and updating the Sherburne-Earlville Stadium along with many other improvements.

The new capital improvement project comes on the heels of the last, but according to district officials, this project is necessary in order to keep the district operational. The new project includes many items that were identified during a recent building condition survey. Improvements need to be made to the pool facility and the pool locker room. Those improvements include structural steel replacements as well as mechanical and plumbing replacements, without which the pool would no longer be useable.

The project also calls for upgrades to the district office to increase security and confidentiality. The existing district office was never intended to be used as office space. Temporary walls were installed to separate the individual offices. While those walls created separate spaces, they were never intended to dampen noise.

In addition, the elementary school will undergo a complete heating, ventilation and air conditioning system replacement.