Voters in the South Washington County Schools District on Tuesday voted to keep three incumbents on the board and also elected a candidate supported by the teachers’ union.
Incumbents Kathleen (Katie) Schwartz and Sharon H. Van Leer were re-elected to the school board with 15.2 percent and 14.5 percent of the vote, respectively. School board member Louise Hinz, who was appointed to the board in March, was elected to the board with 14.5 percent; Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg, who was endorsed by United Teachers for South Washington County, received 15.4 percent of the vote.
Three candidates endorsed by Parents United — Bryn Forstner, Juan Huerta and Lori Pecchia Michalski — were not elected. Neither were Travis Dahle nor Chad Borseth.
Voters continued to arrive at the polling location in Woodbury City Hall after dark on Tuesday, with many drawn by the school board race.
May Chang, 60, of Woodbury, said she turned out to support candidates opposed to what she described as “liberal ideas of changing gender.” “Just leave our children alone and let them study, learn academics, not intoxicate them with ideologies,” said Chang, who had three children attend schools in Woodbury.
William Hrbacek, 27, of Woodbury, said he turned out in part to stick up for LGBTQ friends by backing candidates supportive of “socially inclusive initiatives.”
“I’d like for them to be in an environment where they’re not harassed or discriminated against,” Hrbacek said, adding that teachers union endorsements guided his votes in the race.
The South Washington County school district covers all or parts of Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, Afton, Denmark and Grey Cloud Island Townships.
Mahtomedi School District
Voters in the Mahtomedi district approved both referendum questions on the ballot.
Related Articles
DFL holds on to Senate majority in special elections; GOP holds Wright County seat
Stillwater: Construction mishap causes power outage near Lakeview Hospital construction site
Woodbury Central Park opens with updated playground, garden and accessible features
Lake St. Croix Beach may face age discrimination lawsuit following termination of city administrator
Hibbing police investigate fatal shooting early Sunday morning
The first question, which asked taxpayers to increase the school district’s existing operating levy from $1,570 to $2,145 per student, passed with 64 percent of the vote. The additional $575 per pupil, which will start next year, will help maintain class sizes, sustain academic programming and strengthen financial stability, according to Superintendent Barbara Duffrin.
The second question, which asked for $28 million to fund a number of improvements, passed with 59 percent of voters supporting it. Among the improvements: a new front entrance at Mahtomedi Middle School; choir and band classroom improvements, new mechanicals, a weight-room addition and safety and security improvements at Mahtomedi High School, and new turf and lights at Athletic Field 1.
“We are incredibly grateful to our community for investing in the future of Mahtomedi students,” Duffrin shared in a message to voters on Tuesday night. “Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote, ask questions, and engage in the conversations. … We are united in our commitment to ensuring that students receive an excellent education in safe, innovative schools. Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your shared belief in what’s possible when we put students first.”
Passage of the second ballot question was contingent upon passage of the first.
The passage of both means property taxes on a house worth $500,000, the average price of a house in the district, will rise about $382 a year, district officials said.
Leave a Reply