Residents of 14 school districts in Northern Minnesota weighed in on the future of the schools in their communities on Tuesday, Nov. 4 — whether it was voting in a new school board member or whether to increase their own taxes to fund operations or new or improved buildings.
Crosby-Ironton tries again
Supporters of Crosby-Ironton's operating levy request were hoping the third time’s a charm.
The levy up for a vote would provide $1.5 million annually for 10 years, and it’s the district’s third attempt to win a referendum vote in as many years. The tax impact on a $400,000 home, about the district median, would be about $26 per month, starting in 2026. The levy would be in place for 10 years.
Gretchen Nelson typically serves as an election judge in Daggett Brook Township, on the southern end of Crosby-Ironton's district boundaries in Crow Wing County. With polling places combined, she served as the head election judge at Crosby City Hall, one of four sites. At about 5:30 p.m., 1,197 voters had cast their ballots there with two and a half hours to go.
“It’s been unlike anything I would have ever expected as far as turnout,” Nelson said. “It’s been nuts.”
The district made more than $1 million in budget cuts after the first two failed attempts — reducing teaching positions, support staff, electives and extracurriculars. The district reports it faces another $1 million shortfall that is projected to grow to $1.5 million within five years without new funding.
If voters reject the request, the district said it would end online schooling and College in the Schools contracts. All purchases of curriculum and instructional supplies would be suspended, and all extracurricular activities would be 100% defunded.
It would also mean cutting six full-time employees: one elementary teacher, one high school teacher, one family and consumer sciences teacher, one music teacher, one foreign language teacher and one high school custodian. One school counselor position would be reduced to half-time.
“It’s a major issue. You know, if the school goes, the town goes,” said Cuyuna voter Seth Pakarinen outside city hall. “ ... I voted yes. And to be honest, I don’t want to vote yes. But I have to.”
Rae Zahn and her daughter Carmen Zahn, who is a graduate of the district and now its technology coordinator, chatted outside city hall with friend Lisa Rydberg after all three cast ballots in favor. Rae Zahn, 72, has lived in the area for more than 40 years and said she feels like there’s been more positive chatter around the referendum vote this time.
“I think the School Board did its work to really push to make this work for the community,” Rydberg said. “So I hope it works for the community because it needs to have a thriving school.”
“If we want good doctors and people to come to town, we have to have a good school district,” Carmen Zahn added.
Timothy Hummel of Ironton, 71, exited shortly thereafter. He graduated from Crosby-Ironton in 1973 and has spent his entire life there. Both he and wife Diane Hummel said they also voted in favor.
“If us old farts don’t vote for the levy, the children that are in the district are not going to get a good education,” Hummel said, adding he remembered when he attended, the school building was in rough shape.
“When the mines moved out of here, this town went into like hibernation mode,” Hummel said. “And now with mountain biking and kayaking, fishing, people are coming back here. But they won’t come back if the school is dead.”
School Board seat, 2 questions on Deer River ballots
In Deer River, over 200 voters cast ballots in the first three hours that the King Elementary polling place was open, and the parking lot was growing fuller as daylight slowing started to dim.
That’s nearly 10% of voters registered for that location, which was one of four in the Deer River School District special election.
Residents were deciding on two ballot questions to give extra funding to the district and a school board seat.
Like many other districts in the state, Deer River is facing rising costs and declining enrollment. Leaders say the funding would allow the district to maintain staff, provide education resources and fund operating expenses.
Dan Graf’s three kids went to Deer River and graduated within the last few years. He said a lot that the district does is good, but there’s a lot that needs to be “cleaned up and squared away.”
“If that were done, it would make all this unnecessary,” he said. “I think what the school wants to do is great. But unfortunately, in this day and age, everybody wants what they want, and they want it now, and everything’s available.
“The problem is, as a small district, you can’t be everything to all people. So, you’ve got to really fine tune what you can and can’t allow for or cover the expense of.”
Graf voted no on both questions.
“I think there’s plenty that can be done without nasty, draconian measures taking place,” he said. “It’s just if people have the stomach to do it.”
Lael Storlie voted yes to both measures. She’s a district parent and a school counselor and said she’d be a yes even if she didn’t work for the district.
“[If the referendum fails], as a parent, I’ll be really worried about our kids,” she said. “I guess, my employment is the least of why I’m here voting. It’s about our children. It’s concerning if it doesn’t pass how that will impact their education.”
WHA poses tax-neutral question, seeks new bus garage
Voters in the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School District cast ballots across three polling sites on two questions for capital bonding.
The first nearly $16 million request was not projected to raise property taxes, as it would replace expiring debt with new bonds. The funds would address the aging school building’s infrastructure, including its heating and ventilation system and updating the entrances to ensure visitors check in at the main office.
The second $3 million question, to upgrade the district’s bus garage, was projected to have a $12 a year impact on a home valued at $200,000.
Sisters Rachel and Naomi Hoffelt of Akeley said they planned to support the measures.
“They need good transportation,” Rachel Hoffelt said. “If they can’t get the kids to school, they can’t learn.”
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