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Brainerd School District voters have spoken — and they said “Yes, Yes.”
Voters approved the first question, which asked for a renewal of $199.24 per pupil, with 7,036 yes votes, or 70.57 percent, to 2,934, or 29.42 percent.
Voters also approved the second question, which asked for an additional $200 per pupil levy, with 5,371 yes votes, or 53.92 percent, and 4,589 no votes, or 46.07 percent.
There were 506 absentee ballots cast.
School officials waited for the results on the second floor of the Historic Crow Wing County Courthouse Tuesday night.
Absentee ballots were tabulated by 8:15 p.m. with precincts beginning to report back to the building by 9 p.m. The final votes that came in were from Nisswa around 10:50 p.m.
“We did it. A lot better than last time,” board member Ruth Nelson said with a smile as she put her hand on former board member Bob Nystrom’s shoulder as the last votes came in.
“I’m very happy with the support of the community,” board member Ruth Nelson said. “This confirms my belief that when we have well thought out levy questions they will support it.”
Nelson thanked those who worked hard for passage of the levy questions.
“It’s pretty humbling,” said board chair Jim Hunt. “We understand we still need to be the stewards we are and we’re thankful for that. This will give us some breathing room and we can hopefully move ahead without cutting this and that.”
“Again, this community has come through,” added board member Reed Campbell. “And it’s all for the kids.”
Steve Lund, director of business services, said that even though it is good news that both questions passed, the board still has decisions to make in order to balance the budget.
“Our work isn’t done,” said Lund. “We can now trim around the edges with a scalpel instead of hacking away with a hatchet.”
“We are thankful the community has spoken in support of opportunities for students,” said Superintendent Steve Razidlo. “This feels like a measure of trust in the results that the schools provide. ... We’re going to work even harder at being transparent and respectful stewards of this amazing gift from community.”
Marv Begin, who led efforts to oppose the levy questions, said the results surprised him.
“I thought it would be a lot closer than that,” said Begin.
Randy Klinger, co-chair of the Citizens Vote Yes Yes Steering Committee, said his group was cautiously optimistic but continued making calls to potential voters until 7:53 p.m. Tuesday.
“In these uncertain economic times, today, our community came together for our kids and each other,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the collective efforts of the individuals in our community, all working with the same goal of helping kids and helping others.”
County elections coordinator Debby Erickson said 9,989 voters out of 24,928 registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s levy referendum, or 39.3 percent.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
Comments (27)
Add commentThank you citizens of ISD
Thank you citizens of ISD 181!
There would have been two
There would have been two more YES YES votes if I could have voted from Kuwait! The majority of you have made a positive difference for the kids and that's what it's ALL about!
Pull together
Let's pull together and support the schools and kids in every way we can going forward. The basics are paid for for a while. Thank you voters in ISD 181.
Volunteer if you can. Support activities. Contact your legislators and ask them to support legislation that takes education off the property tax rolls and puts it back where it belongs at the state level.
Thank you again, voters in ISD 181.
Thank you
A big "Thank You" to the local community for supporting this. Now let's focus on changing how education is funded so we have an equitable distribution around the state of Minnesota. Great job!
Good choice!!
Nice going.........There's a chance for Brainerd yet!
vote
Any bets on how long it takes before 181 wants more?
come on cyclerod its for the
come on cyclerod its for the kids
Cycle
The ship is coming to port,after the ship leaves port we'll find out. Any bets on a upgrade to artificial turf at Stolski Field?
good one
good one rubbyk :-) And I have a bridge I for sale
Supporters
Where were you four years ago when they asked for approval of that levy? I don't think the economy was in as bad a shape back then as it is today but yet you support this one. The threats of cutbacks must have gotten to everybody. I think back four years ago people thought the school district wouldn't actually do the things they said they would do such as closing schools but they did and now people don't want that to happen again so the support for the levy is greater. The school district could have used this four years ago and all the upheaval of the kids that were in those closed schools wouldn't have had to happen. How long before the school district wastes this money also and comes back asking for more? I am not impressed with this school district one bit.
Stolski Field
I say we put a dome over it. We could build it out of fancy stones like those in the entry way of Forest View.
"Marv Begin,
who led efforts to oppose the levy questions, said the results surprised him." Well, I wasn't surprised, disappointed, but not surprised. You had a newspaper that crammed their one sided opinion down our throats, with very little coverage of the opposition. My question is how many people with underwater mortgages might be reconsidering homeownership?
Omg
Omg, cant you be happy for anyone? My wife and almost lost our house but instead of complaining we both got a second job that we hate but its helping out! Guess what? We still voted even though it might cost us a few more dollars a year...suck it up and move on!
supersport20?
You almost lost your house? You now both have second jobs that you hate? Yet you still voted yes. All I can do is shake my head and wonder why? Talk about being brain washed.
Thank you
I am a single father in this community. It is important to me that my little guys are provided the best enviornment to learn in. I am not able to choose the schools that my kids attend (ie. private schools, home tutoring, church schools) so I am proud that my community thought the local school district is important for the growth of our kids.
I thank everyone who voted. Yes and No. Voting is what makes us Americans and active particiapnts in our community.
Good post, dchrisi.
Good post, dchrisi.
Levy
I keep seeing the same names attached to the negative comments on this site. I might comment a couple times a year if it's really essential. Who are you guys that have all the time to spend sarcastically commenting on anything that might be positive or uplifting in this area. Are you gainfully employed? Are you retired? Are you on disability? Don't you have a life? In real life, if there is a problem, we can take some responsibility and help seek solutions and improvements. Any half-wit can anonymously take potshots at any issue. The newspaper did put 'Whiner Marv's' picture on the front page again and again. He's not that good-looking and I got kind of tired of it. Anyway,how many people showed up to support his uniformed, unsubstantiated, negative and hurtful point of view, maybe 12? His views are not to help the community or students but to punish the overpaid, over-educated, underworked, elitist and arrogant school administrators and school board members. And while we're at it, how about the greedy, money-grubbing, overpaid, under-worked, uncaring teachers. Man, do they have it made. If I wasn't such lazy, arrogant, callous and opinionated old guy, I'd go over to one of those schools and volunteer some time so I could see first-hand just how greedy and uncaring those teachers and the rest of the staff are. Then I'd report back to you and the rest of the community right here on VoxPop with a really accurate report of how bad things really are at the school. Heck, if it's bad enough, I might just write a letter to the editor and sign my name. And if things are really as cushy as I hear it is at the schools, I might even go back to college for the next 4 or 5 years and get a degree in education. How hard could that be? Have you every met any of those dim-witted teachers. If it wasn't such a financial burden and time commitment I probably would have done it already by now. This could be the best idea I've ever had. Please, if any of you are interested, I'll call Marv and we'll line up a meeting in the library so we know which schools to volunteer at and maybe get some information on how we can qualify for some grants so we can get a free college education and we can take over these hapless schools and make a real difference. Who's on board? Please help!!! Let me know.
i voted yes no
I hope it is for the kids. We will see in future purchases. I will pay and not complain on anything but this one thing....
If this was truly for the kids, as the teachers say, why were the teachers not willing to give a little bit on their end?
They sure are accepting their 2% raise next year with open arm,s. Yup, its all about the kids.
Now, when the homestead tax credit goes away, and the school gets even more of my tax dollars, and your tax dollars, then what?
Move
I am sensing a lot of hostility. It is a shame that this has our community so divided. The voters have spoken, let's move on. If you don't like it, you can always move...Although, I hear that the levies are much higher in most of the state than in our district. I proudly voted yes yes and will do everything I can to support our schools.
This is a shame
When will we realize that you can not keep pouring money into a broken system? When will the citizens demand accountability and results for the money that is being poured into our schools?
This is yet another irresponsible government institution that continues to waste taxpayers money and fails to do a good job educating the children of our community.
Our children deserve better than they are receiving in the public schools. Parents would do well to take there children out of these institutions.
condolences to 'pdnet15'...
condolences to 'pdnet15', who claims to have been brainwashed by the Brainerd Dispatch, which allegedly "crammed their one sided opinion down our throats".
Apparently 'pdnet' missed all the free "Vote No" rants that appeared in this space during the past week courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch -- (including the suggestion that the school district raise money by selling real estate that it doesn't own).
PS: But in answer to pdnet's question: "How many people with underwater mortgages might be reconsidering homeownership" (because of that brutal $5.00 increase)?, the answer is: "None"
Whine and complain...
B**** and moan all you want, but y'all constantly remind me of the scene in Monty Python's "The Life of Brian" where they're all sitting around talking about how things need to be done- let's get out there and do things- let's get something accomplished!!- But the second someone tells them to get off their butt and make a difference, they act like she's hasty and off her rocker.
Codgers on computers....
Ha ha
These post are so funny! You right, the system that pays for education is broke... It shouldn't be based on property tax but funded at the state level..just think anyone who lives in an apartment doesn't contribute...is that fair to the home owners?....maybe it should it be paid by a tax that eveyone contributes. Instead of complaining, do something good in the community and you will feel better!
Educating our children
I am sorry to see that people actually feel that our schools are failing to do a good job educating our children. I was born and raised in this community. I graduated with a 4.0. I went to college, followed with graduate school, then came back to be a hard working, productive member of our community. That education started here and brought me back here. I wanted a community for my kids that was dedicated to providing the best education available. I believe I have found that here. The teachers care about the students and are dedicated to seeing them succeed. The fact is, we must invest in the future. Someone else payed for our education through taxpayer dollars. Now it is time to put it towards the next generation. One of the top reasons people choose to move to a new community is the quality of their public school system. If we want our community to grow, new jobs to become available, and our property values to increase again, we must invest in education. If you see problems with our schools, get off the couch and get involved. Stop complaining and do something about it. Volunteer your time instead of sitting at a computer complaining. I see nothing but hard working teachers, investing their time and education in the generation that will be taking care of you in the future. Feel free to put your kids in private school, they won't get a better education than I received in ISD 181. I am not brain washed, I researched the facts and made an educated vote.
unions
this just proves there are more union school and government public employees then the private workers paying for them! too bad the private sector is so poorly represented. it ain't ward!
unions
yay, ohio!
pdnet/cycle/rubbyk
Dont know if you buy the paper but your famous today. Comments are printed in todays paper along with a few others.