Aitkin school district campus plan draws $5 million grant recommendation

The Minnesota Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board recommended $5 million for infrastructure and site development tied to Aitkin Independent School District’s proposed unified campus, according to the board’s Feb. 12, 2026 meeting minutes.

The recommendation is connected to a project budget of $70,440,400. The proposal would combine school facilities, transportation operations, site improvements and a community wellness center in one campus plan for the Aitkin area.

What the $70.4 million plan includes

The largest listed component is a new PreK-6 elementary building with a budget of $43,860,200. The plan also lists $9,444,200 for infrastructure, utilities, road work and other site improvements.

A transportation center is budgeted at $5,674,100. The proposal also includes a $6 million community wellness center connected to the PreK-6 building.

The infrastructure and site-development portion is the focus of the IRRRB recommendation. Those improvements would support the proposed school building, transportation facilities and shared community space, while also covering utilities, roads and work on the campus site.

Recommendation is not final grant approval

The board minutes describe the $5 million as a recommendation rather than a final grant award. The minutes do not establish that the grant has been formally approved, that funds have been disbursed or that construction has begun.

The document also does not identify a final construction schedule or resolve the status of the broader financing plan. The $70,440,400 figure is therefore the proposed project budget, not a statement that the entire amount has been financed or spent.

For residents, the immediate development is the state board’s recommendation for infrastructure support. Any later grant approval, financing action or construction milestone would determine how the proposed campus moves from planning into implementation.

County passport appointments paused for primary election

Aitkin County is also warning residents about a temporary change to passport services. The county auditor’s elections office says passport application appointments will not be accepted until Aug. 19, 2026, because of upcoming election activity.

The Minnesota State Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 11. People who need passport services through Aitkin County will need to schedule around the pause, with appointments expected to resume after Aug. 19.