MSBA's referendum result survey - 2008 Operating, Bond and Capital Facilities Results Show 22 Districts passing at least 1 operating levy question, 19 fail; 7 of 13 bond and capital facilities projects (54 percent) were approved, MSBA. In total, 17 districts passed every referenda question, five districts had split results.

Are you going out for a local levy this year?  Does your citizen action group have a Web site? E-mail mary@parentsunited.org to network and share information with other Parents United parents!

Introduction

There are two parts to school levy campaigns: the District Informational Campaign and the Citizen Promotional Campaign. Minnesota law does not allow local school boards or superintendents to use their official positions to advocate for school levies. Consequently, Minnesota school levy campaigns are typically run by citizen groups.

District Informational Campaign

The goal is an informed citizenry.

• Districts must provide information about the campaign in a neutral manner.
• District funds cannot be used to promote the election's outcome.
• Districts may use funds for a neutral informational campaign.

Citizen Promotional Campaign
(the vote-yes group)

The goal is to pass the referendum.

• The promotional campaign operates independently of the school district.
• The individuals who work on the promotional campaign have a great deal of latitude in their promotional work.
• The promotional campaign raises and spends private funds.

The two entities can work together to coordinate efforts.

December 2008 - "Elections are over. Candidates won and lost various political seats, but the most important issues were often things that voters decided on directly. Like whether they were willing to pay a bit more to make sure their sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters had the opportunity to get a first-rate education,"
Dave DeMars, Waite Park Newsleader.