Majority of Nov. 3 school ballot questions pass

Voters in 41 out of 58 Minnesota school districts with operating levies on the ballot Nov. 3 approved at least one levy proposal, according to unofficial tallies.

In addition, 11 out of 13 districts with bond or capital projects on the ballot successfully passed those measures. All told, two-thirds of the 93 levy and bond questions on local ballots statewide were approved.

However, 17 districts failed to pass any operating levy proposals, meaning further budget cuts are likely for their schools and students. Several other districts were able to renew or replace an existing levy, but not to pass a second or third ballot question to cover rising costs.

“These levies are critical because they often pay for the basics to make up for what the state no longer provides,” Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher said. “Our schools are becoming more and more dependent on an inequitable system of funding that varies from district to district and ZIP code to ZIP code. Students in some districts have access to courses of study and other learning opportunities that students just a few miles away do not. That is not what Minnesota is about.”

November 04, 2009