FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2026
Bond Referendum Petitions Available for SFCSD Residents
SUMNER, IA — Community members in the Sumner-Fredericksburg Community School District are circulating a petition requesting that the School Board place a general obligation bond referendum on the ballot for November 3, 2026.
To advance the measure, the petition must be signed by eligible voters who reside in SFCSD, equivalent to 25% of those who voted in the most recent board election. A petition is available at the district office (802 W. 6th St., Sumner) and at Sumner-Fredericksburg Middle School (300 E. Main St., Fredericksburg).
The petition language reads as follows:
TO THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SUMNER-FREDERICKSBURG
COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN THE COUNTIES OF BREMER, CHICKASAW, AND FAYETTE,
STATE OF IOWA:
We, the undersigned, are eligible electors, reside within the School District and petition the Board of Directors of the School District to call a special election to submit to the voters of the School District the following proposition the purpose of which cannot be accomplished within the limit of one and one-quarter percent of the assessed value of the taxable property within the School District:
Shall the Board of Directors of the Sumner-Fredericksburg Community School District in the Counties of Bremer, Chickasaw, and Fayette, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $16,300,000 to construct, build, furnish, and equip additions to the High School building; and to remodel, repair, improve, and equip the existing High School, Middle School, and Fredericksburg Elementary buildings, including playground, parking, and site improvements?
Once the signature requirement is fulfilled, petitions can be submitted to the School Board for verification and consideration of the bond referendum request. Signing a petition does not indicate support or opposition for a referendum.
“Making petitions available is an important step in the process of placing a general obligation bond referendum before voters in November,” said Superintendent Ryan Cunningham. “We encourage eligible residents to review the petition information and participate in this process.”
SFCSD has undertaken a multi-phase approach to modernizing its facilities. The initial phase, currently underway and informed by community feedback gathered over the past year, is being completed without increasing property tax rates. Instead, the district is using $11.5 million in statewide sales tax revenue from the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund for improvements at the high school, middle school, and Fredericksburg Elementary campuses.
At the high school, SAVE funds will support a new secure main entrance and office area, renovation of the music classrooms, a new special education suite, renovation of the art classroom and affiliated spaces, modernization of career and technical education (CTE) classrooms, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades, and ADA accessibility improvements.
A new roof will be installed at the middle school with SAVE funds, and a new secure entrance will be built at Fredericksburg Elementary. Updates at the elementary school will also enable the building to become home to the district’s new charter school, Future Frontiers, community engagement classrooms, and the new No Boundaries Northeast program for 8th graders, which will launch with 25 students.
Phase II would leverage up to $16.3 million of voter-approved general obligation bond revenue to complete additional projects in each community the district serves.
A new elementary and early childhood center would take shape at the existing SFHS campus in Sumner through an addition and an extensive remodel of the south half of the current high school, creating an age-appropriate separation while still allowing efficient sharing of district resources. The project would allow for the closure of Durant Elementary.
At the north side of the campus, a two-story classroom addition would be built to serve high school students. The wing would feature space for agriculture education, general science, family and consumer sciences, business education, and a media center with collaborative space. The west wing of the school would be removed when work is complete.
Expanded special education spaces, updated restrooms, and a new playground with hard and soft play surfaces are planned for the Sumner campus. General obligation bond revenue would also support HVAC improvements at Fredericksburg Elementary and interior improvements at the middle school.
“Our students deserve safe, modern spaces where they can thrive,” Cunningham said. “We believe this plan will offer youngest students a safe and exceptional learning environment and provide our middle and high school students access to the resources and training they need to be prepared for college, careers, and the workforce of tomorrow.”
A bond-dedicated website will be released soon and we have significant plans in the coming weeks and months to spread the word on all the bond entails!
Bond referendums require voter approval of at least 60% to pass.
Please direct inquiries to:
Ryan Cunningham, Superintendent
(563) 578-3341