Leadership, and more, is on the ballot on Nov. 5

At the risk of sounding very Minnesotan by beginning this column with talk of the weather, this has been a gorgeous fall season. We have enjoyed the riotous colors of fall and even some of the annual chores like raking leaves and putting the garden to bed. This particular fall season we have other duties as well, like voting!

Election Day is fast approaching, and it brings decisions that will affect our lives on many levels. From the presidency to the school board, leadership is on the ballot. The decisions we make collectively as citizens of our cities, state and nation will have significant impact.

Specifically related to Robbinsdale Area Schools (Rdale), voters will be asked to vote on school board members and a Capital Projects Technology Levy Renewal. 

For three open seats on our school board, we have seven candidates on the ballot. As we continue to engage in the important work of preparing our students for their futures, I am grateful to those who have chosen to put their names forward to serve. 

Also on the ballot this fall is a renewal of Rdale’s Technology Levy. “Renewal” means we're not asking for anything new, just continuing what we've done for the past 10 years. In 2014 when it was initially voted in, the levy tax rate was 4.207 percent. The owner of an average home paid about $11 per month, or a total of $132 annually, for their portion of the district’s technology levy.

If the levy is renewed by voters for another 10 years on Nov. 5, the tax rate will remain at 4.207 percent. (The actual tax paid will vary, of course, based on each home’s value.)

The ability of Rdale students to succeed is connected to the district’s ability to stay current with classroom and safety technology. What district students stand to gain from a successful referendum is considerable: technology for learning, technology for safer schools, and technology to support staff. I talked about each of these in my last column for this publication (“3 months underway at Robbinsdale Schools,” Oct. 10, 2024). The projected income from the levy is about $7 million annually for the next 10 years.

Technology has become essential to how students learn and how teachers teach. This means we can’t simply stop using or updating our technology if the referendum doesn’t pass. It does mean that without levy funds we would need to use general fund dollars to pay for technology needs.

The next time my words appear in this publication, we will know the results of Rdale’s levy referendum. We may or may not know how other key elections turned out. What’s most important is that every eligible voter has cast their ballot for the causes and people they believe in.

When I was at Armstrong and Cooper for National Voter Registration Day last month, it was exciting to see community members supporting our students as they registered to vote for the first time. As I engaged with students that day and saw their excitement in the opportunity to use their voice, through their vote, to shape the future, I was reminded of the awesome privilege and responsibility we have as members of American democracy where “We the People” matters!