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There are five candidates running for four seats on the ISD 197 school board this year. We’ve asked the candidates a series of questions to see where they stand on the issues. We’ll share one question and the responses at a time leading up to the election on November 7. See our ISD 197 voter’s guide for more.
We already asked about the candidates‘ top priorities, how they would make the district better, money, volunteer experience, equity, what sets candidates apart, and district strengths and weaknesses. This week we’re asking about levies. Learn more about the current levies on the ballot.
The district has had multiple referendums in the past decade, including the 2018 bond referendum, the 2021 levy renewal, and the current levies. Have you supported the past levies and do you support the current levy and renewal? Why or why not?
We posed this question to all candidates. Here are their answers in random order:
Tim Aune
I have supported the levies. Compared to other metro districts I feel the tax burden in 197 is very fair. The benefits of having a strong district with great schools are clear and I do not see evidence of anything being overfunded.
Randi Walz
I have supported past levies and also fully support the current levies. Levies play a crucial role in bridging the financial gap between what the state allocates and the actual expenses necessary to provide quality education for our students.
As the district aptly points out, the levies would have a substantial positive impact on our schools. It would not only maintain a stable and reliable source of funding but also enable us to invest wisely in our educational future. The district’s comprehensive explanations for the necessity of these levies are both informative and responsible.
It is worth noting that even with the approval of the current levy request, our district’s tax rates will remain competitive, lower than those of nearly all the metro area districts. Furthermore, endorsing these levy requests will provide long-term stability to the district’s finances, which
means that the earliest instance the board might need to return to the voters with another levy request would be approximately 15-20 years from now. (https://www.isd197.org/vote2023)
Our district has judiciously utilized past levy funds to support our schools and students and I am confident that this community investment will propel our district upward.
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Byron Schwab
I have supported all ISD 197 referendums, levy renewal and bond referendums in the past and plan to support the current levy for learning and renewal of the technology levy. I would support this because this is an investment in our students, our community and our future. As Treasurer of ISD 197 School Board, I know our money is spent wisely, I know the impact of inflation, I know the challenges of Legislative unfunded mandates and I know the challenges staff and all employees throughout ISD 197 handle with care, professionalism and expertise everyday. They need the support, resources and training to be able to do their very best to help every child succeed. This is a small price to pay for a very important and critical investment in students, staff and community.
Morgan Steele
I have supported past levies, bonds and renewals and support the current levy/renewal. It is critical that we, as a community, are aware that our teacher contracts are lower than neighboring districts and that we need these funds to retain the staff we have and attract others. Additionally, some of these funding needs bring our spending levels to the bottom of what other districts are spending per student; while it is wonderful that we have been able to be so fiscally responsible, we don’t want to shortchange our students in the long run by limiting access to various resources that will prepare them for their future paths.
Rowen Elsmore
I have supported the past levies, and I also support the current levy and renewal. Education is a priority in our community, we need to literally put our money where our mouths are. There are significant places that we are falling short with our existing funding, the levy will help to close this gap. We also need to continue to push the state legislature to continue to increase our funding. This includes completely funding special education, and ending the special education cross-subsidy.
Note:
Barbara Kessler dropped out of the race in August, though her name will still appear on the ballot.
Vote on November 7
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. The ISD 197 website has details on where and how to vote. Voting options also include absentee voting, either by mail or in person, which starts September 22.
We’ll share more candidate responses as we get closer to the 2023 election. You can also see our ISD 197 voter’s guide for more.
Thank you to the candidates for taking the time to respond.
This election coverage happens thanks to our members. Consider joining them and supporting neighborhood news, starting at just $3 per month.
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