11/05/2026
The failure of ISD 622’s operating referendum is disappointing, and I believe it reflects a larger challenge facing our community: families are financially stretched, and our system for funding public education needs to change.
The referendum failed by just 337 votes, with 49.5% voting yes and 50.5% voting no. That’s an incredibly close result, and one that deserves thoughtful reflection.
Over the past several months, I’ve knocked on thousands of doors across our community. One concern came up again and again: affordability. Whether discussing housing, healthcare, groceries, or property taxes, people are struggling with rising costs.
I believe that financial pressure was a major factor in this referendum’s defeat. For many households, even an additional $20 a month is difficult to absorb. We have to respect that reality.
But this result also highlights a much larger problem with how Minnesota funds public education.
Our state has not consistently kept pace with the rising costs of educating students. Healthcare, wages, utilities, transportation, and other expenses continue to increase for families AND school districts.
When state funding doesn’t cover those increases, districts face two choices: 1) cut spending OR 2) ask local property taxpayers to make up the difference.
District 622 has already made approximately $15 million in budget cuts over three years. We haven’t increased our voter-approved operating levy in a decade, and we receive substantially less voter-approved operating funding per pupil than neighboring districts, despite serving a higher proportion of students from low-income families.
Federal funding creates another challenge. Congress established a goal of covering 40% of certain special education costs, but federal funding falls far short, leaving states and local taxpayers to cover the difference.
❓ This raises a fundamental question: Why should a child’s educational opportunities depend so heavily on the wealth of the community where they grow up?
A student in North St. Paul, Maplewood, or Oakdale deserves the same opportunities as a student in a wealthier district. Education is one of our strongest tools for economic mobility, yet communities with greater financial needs often have fewer resources to invest in their schools.
I also recognize that some residents voted “no” for reasons beyond affordability.
I’ve heard concerns about academic performance, district leadership, budgeting, transparency, competing ballot questions, and whether enough information was shared with voters. These concerns deserve to be heard and addressed.
We should and must always look for ways to improve student achievement, strengthen accountability, communicate more effectively, and spend taxpayer dollars responsibly.
At the same time, it’s important to recognize our progress. Graduation rates and student behavior have improved, and investments in energy efficiency are helping reduce operating costs.
Test scores matter, and we need to improve them. But standardized tests don’t tell the whole story. Individual student growth, particularly in reading and math, is also important, as are the different learning needs of our students.
We can and must demand better academic outcomes while also recognizing that achieving them requires adequate resources.
Some have suggested simply cutting more spending or eliminating waste. Responsible budgeting is essential, and we should continue pursuing efficiencies. But after $15 million in cuts, there are no easy solutions that will close the funding gap without affecting students.
And that’s what saddens me most about this result.
As a graduate of District 622, I know how much our schools mean to students and families. The roughly $8.8 million in additional annual funding would have helped protect teachers, support staff, manageable class sizes, courses, and extracurricular opportunities.
Without that funding, additional difficult budget decisions lie ahead.
➡️ So where do we go from here?
1️⃣ First, we need to fix the underlying funding problem at the State Capitol. Minnesota must better align education funding with actual costs so districts aren’t continually forced to choose between cutting educational opportunities and raising property taxes. A big cost driver for districts is health insurance costs. The state can create a statewide pool to help alleviate that cost pressure. We must also push Congress to meet its special education funding obligations.
2️⃣ Second, we need to listen, learn, and improve. With such a close result, it’s fair to ask whether different outreach, communication, or engagement strategies could have made a difference. District leadership and the School Board have a responsibility to take those lessons seriously.
3️⃣ Third, we need to keep supporting our students and educators. One immediate opportunity is the District 622 Education Foundation’s Click for a Cause auction starting NOV. 6, which supports educational opportunities for students. You can participate at https://www.32auctions.com/ClickforaCause.
We also need to keep talking with one another. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please reach out to the superintendent or School Board. Constructive dialogue, transparency, and accurate information are essential to building trust.
If you’d like to get involved in the advocacy of state and local education funding, including a future referendum, please email [email protected] and follow Citizens for 622.
I am grateful voters approved the constitutional amendment to strengthen the Permanent School Fund, which is expected to provide District 622 with around $350,000 in additional annual funding. That’s meaningful progress, even if it doesn’t come close to closing our funding gap.
As I prepare to serve our community in the Minnesota Senate, strengthening public education will remain one of my highest priorities. That means securing more equitable and sustainable funding, improving academic outcomes, reducing classroom distractions like phones, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent effectively.
I respect the decision voters made. But our responsibility to improve our schools doesn’t end with an election.
Our families deserve financial relief. Our taxpayers deserve accountability. And our children ABSOLUTELY deserve a quality education regardless of their ZIP code.
I was once a kid in a District 622 classroom. Every child sitting in those classrooms today deserves the same opportunities I had, and hopefully even better ones.
That’s what I’ll keep working toward.
