St. Louis Park School Board Election: Candidates, Referendums

ST. LOUIS PARK, MN — Voters in St. Louis Park will face several important decisions in the voting booth next week. Residents will elect new St. Louis Park school board members and choose whether to approve two funding requests from the board.

There are three open seats on the St. Louis Park School Board. All three seats are for four-year terms.

• Bruce Cantor
• Anne Casey
• Christine M. Johnson
• Mary Tomback
• Karen D. Waters (incumbent)

In addition to the election, votes will decide whether to renew of the district's operating levy to support the current level of funding for teachers, classrooms, and programs. Here's how the first referendum question will appear on the ballot:

Renewal of Expiring Referendum Revenue Authorization

The board of Independent School District No. 283 (St. Louis Park) has proposed to renew the school district's existing referendum revenue authorization of $2,079.99 per pupil which is scheduled to expire after taxes payable in 2018. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would increase each year by the rate of inflation and be applicable for ten years, commencing with taxes payable in 2019, unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.

Shall the increase in the revenue proposed by the board of Independent School District No. 283 be approved?

BY VOTING "YES" ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING TO EXTEND AN EXISTING PROPERTY TAX REFERENDUM THAT IS SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE.

According to the school district, federal and state funding of education has not kept pace with inflation and increasing standards and requirements.

Voters will also be asked to approve a $100.9 million bond referendum package. The question will appear on the ballot like this:

Approval of School District Bond Issue

Shall the school board of Independent School District No. 283 (St. Louis Park) be authorized to issue its general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $100,900,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the completion of deferred maintenance, technology infrastructure and remodeling projects at various school facilities, including adding air conditioning to the Peter Hobart and Susan Lindgren Elementary Schools and remodeling early childhood classrooms at Central School; the construction of additions to and the renovation, repair, remodeling, upgrading, equipping and construction of improvements to the middle school and high school sites and facilities, including performing arts space and classrooms at the middle school and a commons area, a centralized kitchen that will allow the district to provide healthier meals for students in all school facilities districtwide, a fitness center, a media center and science classrooms at the high school; and the acquisition, construction and installation of secured entrances and safety and security improvements at various school facilities?

BY VOTING "YES" ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.

School board officials say the bond referendum will provide:

• Learning spaces for all ages
• PSI will move to Cedar Manor
• Additional Middle School classroom space
• Middle School Performing Arts Space
• High School Weight Room
• Centralized Kitchen to prepare healthy meals for all students
• Longterm plan to exit Central Community Center
• District Office moves out of High School
• Committed space for Early Childhood Programs
• Consideration leasing properties for transitional use
• Security, Technology, Heating & Cooling, and Accessibility for all schools

Helpful links

• For more information on the election, visit the district website.
• Moved recently? In Minnesota you, can register to vote online.

Image: Patch