Albert Lea Area Schools officials are in the middle of a series of presentations about the upcoming referendum slated to take place May 8.

The election asks voters whether the school board should issue $24.615 million in general obligation school building bonds.

The bonds would pay for updates to athletic facilities at Hammer Complex, construction of a full-size gymnasium at Halverson Elementary School and other safety and accessibility improvements at the school, and work in the high school locker room and gym.

Officials so far have had four community presentations — one each at Lakeview, Hawthorne and Halverson elementary schools and at the high school. They have also had meetings with people in service clubs, outlying towns and senior centers.

Albert Lea Superintendent Mike Funk said school presentations have had between 10 and 15 people in attendance, aside from a board listening session at the high school in January where 40 people attended and the presentation Tuesday night at Halverson, where only one person attended the meeting aside from a Tribune reporter. He said the other outside meetings to service clubs and other residents have had between 15 and 30 people per meeting.

Judging by some of the comments we see on social media and hear out in the public, there still seems to be questions people have about the project. We encourage people to take the time to either review all of the information the district has posted on its Facebook page and website about the referendum, check out Tribune articles on the topic or plan to attend one of the remaining presentations:

• Sibley Elementary School, 6 p.m. April 17

• First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove, 6 p.m. April 19

• Southwest Middle School, 6 p.m. April 24

The community presentations also provide a good opportunity for people to get their questions answered before heading to the polls.

The Tribune will have additional stories about the issue in the coming weeks.

Make sure you are informed before heading out to vote.