The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

November 5, 2008

Three school referendums pass

St. Clair, Montgomery-Lonsdale, Le Sueur-Henderson rejoiced Tuesday after their referendums passed

By Tanner Kent

Operating referendums in the St. Clair, Montgomery-Lonsdale and Le Sueur-Henderson school districts gained voter approval Tuesday, while referendums failed in Waseca and New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva.

In Montgomery-Lonsdale, the first referendum question passed with a 60 percent majority (2,609 votes in favor to 1,772) with the second passing by a vote of 2,343 to 2,008. Referendum questions in LSH (2,130 votes in favor to 1,607) and St. Clair (806 votes in favor to 716) passed with slim majorities while eferendums in Waseca (2,492 votes in favor to 3,605) and NRHEG (1,174 votes in favor to 1,600) failed with nearly 60 percent in opposition. Waseca proposed two levy questions, both failed, but the second was null without passage of the first.

“Our margin of victory was so small,” St. Clair Supt. Tom Bruels said. “It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the deciding factors were, but every bit of our work to get information to voters was necessary.”

The unifying element among all five area districts attempting referendums was a focused informational campaign. Town hall meetings and mass mailers were standard fare while other districts took more targeted measures.

In Montgomery-Lonsdale, the School Board approved a plan to provide district residents with a yearly accountability report of district spending. Supt. Corey Lunn also made himself available as a guest host at local coffee shops and cafes in the weeks leading up to Election Day.

In Bruels warned district voters before Election Day that a second consecutive failed referendum would not only mean a repeat of last year’s severe budget cuts but also a slide into statutory operating debt by 2012.

This year, after feedback from voters indicated concerns about long-term investments, the School Board took steps to lower the levy amount and shorten its length.

“It paid off,” Bruels said. “This is very good news for the kids.”

Waseca, too, engaged in a comprehensive information campaign. The School Board held several community meetings to seek input on the levy amount and spent months gathering public feedback. In the weeks leading up to Election Day, the district ran radio ads and amassed a volunteer force to go door-to-door.

But Waseca’s referendum amount was among the highest in the state, asking for $1,150 per pupil on question one and an additional $150 per pupil on question two. Rokke said the 60 percent majority who voted against the referendum represented “a clear statement” that area families could not afford such a steep tax increase.

“We presented all the facts and the information to voters,” Waseca Supt. John Rokke said. “But we fully realize the economic stress families are under.”

Le Sueur-Henderson had the most conservative referendum request among districts in this area. Asking voters only to renew its $300-per-pupil referendum, Supt. Dave Johnson said that even with a passed referendum, the district will face six-figure budget cuts in the spring.

Statewide, 42 school districts attempted referendums this Election Day. Last year, about 100 Minnesota districts attempted referendums — a near record — with about two-thirds succeeding on at least one question.

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