Dakota County School Board Elections: What to Expect
On November 4, voters in Dakota County will have the opportunity to shape the future of their local schools by casting their ballots in several key elections. From mayoral races to education levies and open school board seats, there are many important decisions to be made. In this article, we will delve into the details of the school board elections in three districts: Hastings, Lakeville, and Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan.
In addition to school board elections, voters will also be deciding on levy referendums in Farmington, Lakeville, and Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan. The Farmington district is seeking an operating levy that would provide $1,237 per student annually, generating approximately $8 million per year for 10 years. Meanwhile, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan voters will be asked to renew and increase an expiring technology capital projects levy, and Lakeville Area Schools will ask voters to renew an expiring capital projects levy that was first passed in 2015.
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School Board Election
In the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district, voters will fill three school board seats from four candidates. The candidates are Robin Cerio, Leah Gardner, Sakawdin Mohamed, and M. Tracey Plante, all of whom are vying for four-year terms that will run from January 2026 to January 2030. Cerio, Gardner, and Mohamed are currently on the school board, with terms expiring on January 5. Cerio’s priorities include closing the achievement gap, celebrating diversity, and improving graduation rates. Gardner’s priorities include erasing economic stigmas and supporting students’ mental health. Mohamed is an advocate for increased student mental health support, improved communication, and increasing teacher and staff diversity.
Catherine Diamond is running unopposed in the district’s Special Election to fill the remaining two years of former board member Sachin Isaacs’s term. Diamond is committed to the health and wellness of students and staff and is endorsed by 314 Action, an organization that supports Democrats with a scientific background in public office.
Lakeville Area Public Schools Election
In the Lakeville area school district, voters will elect one of two candidates to the school board. Incumbent Brett Nicholson, who was appointed last November to fill a vacant seat, is running against Tony Reichenberger. Nicholson’s priorities include preparing students for STEM careers, diverse perspectives in history curriculum, and budget transparency. Reichenberger is committed to investing in teachers, collaborating with the community, and improving the reputation of the district’s school board. He also believes that students should learn in a way that does not rely on technology.
Reichenberger stated on his webpage, “Reliance on technology, inside and outside of the classroom, before comprehending facts and functions only trains our children to push buttons, not learn.”
Hastings Public Schools Election
In the Hastings school district, voters will choose from three candidates in a Special Election to fill a vacant school board seat. The seat was formerly held by Jenny Wiederholt-Pine, who passed away in February. The candidates are Elaine K. Mikel-Mulder, Simone Rendon, and Marty Weber, who has since withdrawn from the election. Mikel-Mulder is a supporter of classical education and believes classrooms should be filled with problem-solving opportunities and project-based content. Rendon’s priorities include respecting and caring for teachers, strategically utilizing the budget, and listening to community members.
Rendon, who is Ojibwe and Lakota, stated on Facebook, “I am running for school board because I want to be able to send the children who live with me to a public school that is truly for the public, open and welcoming to all students.”
For more information on the candidates and their priorities, voters can visit the district’s website or attend a candidate forum. It is essential for voters to make informed decisions about the future of their local schools.
Learn more about the Dakota County school board elections and other local elections at Here
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