SARTELL - The Sartell-St. Stephen school district is expecting a surge in students in their middle school, which means more classrooms are needed.

Interim Superintendent Mike Spanier says the district is looking to add three classrooms to the end of the 5th grade wing.

Spanier says the brick and mortar classrooms are preferred over portables.

The cost for the addition is expected to be about $845,000, which would be paid for with a lease-levy. It's a property tax levy that can be put into place without a public vote.  Spanier says a $200,000 home would have a tax increase of about $9.66 a year for 15 years.

The school board is hoping to give their final approval soon, with construction completed in time for the start of school this fall.

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