Here's what $52 million did for Willmar Public Schools A $52 million bond referendum gave Willmar Public Schools the ability to ease overcrowding and give the entire school district a facelift through a broad building and maintenance program. 8:32 am, Feb. 13, 2021 × Families arrive for an open house at Willmar's Lakeland Elementary School in August 2019, the beginning of the first full school year in the building. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune file photo WILLMAR — Nearly six years ago, voters in the Willmar School District approved a $52 million referendum for a district-wide building program. Now, with work nearly finished, the projects funded by the referendum have brought about changes to every building in the district.