Decision 2024

Byron School Board
Do you support the levy ballot measure, why or why not?
Limit of 200 words.
James-Duke D. Dieterle:
Did not respond.
Lisa Jessen
 Yes I support the operating levy. If the state had kept up with inflationary costs, we would have had an additional $3.4 million for the 2023-24 school year. I will always vote Yes for education. Our state needs to provide better funding.
I, too, am a taxpayer who doesn’t want to pay more in taxes, but increasing our revenue is essential for addressing our current financial situation AND future fiscal responsibilities.
Byron is the third lowest funded district per pupil in Minnesota, partly because of our lower numbers for special education and English language learning.
If the operating levy doesn’t pass, we will be looking at class size increases, courses may be eliminated and activities and clubs may not be offered.
Kelli Crary
Yes, I support the Operating Levy. While significant concerns are raised as Byron Public School is navigating through financial challenges, it is important that the children do not receive consequences through this. Byron is known for the phenomenal school district because of its smaller class sizes, the various programs that are offered, the teachers and support staff. Without the levy, we as a community are taking a significant risk and are jeopardizing the children’s educational needs and future as there would need to be significant financial cuts. I do not believe that is a risk that should be taken. As soon as we have more specific answers with respect to the current financial crisis, additional measures can be put in place to assure an error does not happen in the future.  However, at this time, it is crucial for the future of the Byron Public School District and the children’s education that the levy be passed in November.
Nadia Poluhina
I don’t have a good answer to this question. As a parent with children in Byron schools, I feel compelled to vote ‘Yes’ to protect their education from being compromised. If the District were to face insolvency, the Minnesota Department of Education would step in, making decisions on which programs to cut—a scenario I would prefer to avoid, as it would hand over control of our children’s education to the state, rather than the community.
That said, as a responsible member of this community, I can’t endorse the levy without reservations. I have not had access to last year’s or the upcoming school year’s budgets, and like many of you, I question the financial details presented in the referendum pamphlet. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to advocate for the levy with confidence.
Moreover, operating levies are a common tool for districts trying to maintain services amid well-known decline in state funding, especially after COVID, and new unfunded mandates. Many Minnesota schools have managed their finances proactively without reaching the brink of insolvency.
I would wholeheartedly support this levy if the District could provide clear evidence of financial integrity and transparency.
Alisha Eiken
I will vote YES for Byron School District’s Operating Levy. Our kids, teachers, school staff, and community deserve a fully funded school.
Our state school funding has improved, but it is still not enough. School funding has not kept up with inflation, and the necessity of an operating levy was looming before the financial error was made by our previous finance director and current superintendent.  Now, based on the limited financial information that has been made available, it appears our district is in critical need of an operating levy. We cannot let our kids and school staff suffer collateral damage from a failure of leadership.
Like many community members, I have significant concerns about the ability of our current superintendent and school board to responsibly manage the funds from an operating levy. I am hopeful that if the majority of the board turns over in January, our district can swiftly establish the adequate financial oversight, accountability, and transparency necessary to wisely manage the taxpayer funds a levy would provide. For my family, the tax impact of this levy is a worthwhile investment in helping to maintain an exemplary school district.  
Britton Avant
My stance on the operating levy is nuanced, but ultimately, I support it. I recognize that the conversation surrounding this levy has been complicated by the frustration many of us feel regarding our district's financial management issues. Let me be clear: I share in that frustration, and I believe it is absolutely warranted.
 However, after taking a closer look at the situation, I’ve come to understand that the need for this levy exists independently of the accounting errors. Even without those mistakes, we would still be in a position where this levy is necessary.
While I generally lean toward opposing tax increases, in this case, I’m willing to give a resounding “Yes” in support of our children and their teachers. As we approach November, I hope the residents of Byron will also come to see that, regardless of financial mismanagement, this levy is critical for the future of our community.
Additionally, I’m voting “Yes” with the hope that I will be elected to the board and be part of a new era of extensive financial oversight. I want people to feel confident that their hard-earned money will be properly managed and used for the benefit of our children and schools.
Looking Ahead
Next week we will feature candidates from both Byron and K-M, as part of our annual newspaper awareness efforts. Every address in Dodge County, and Byron will receive a free edition of the Dodge County Independent at their home.
Following next week’s edition, it will be back to our normal schedule, with K-M School Board candidates featured.
Next week’s question:
Neighboring Rochester Public Schools is lobbying for changes to the Minnesota Data Practice Act, according to the Post Bulletin. If elected would you support similar lobbying efforts, and if so what would you want changed?
Word limit 150 words
State Rep
Do you think there should be any reforms made to the data practices laws in the state, and if so what changes would you propose?
Word Limit 200
Heather Holmes
First and foremost, it is important to ensure our state’s data practice laws will protect everyone’s personal information in all arenas. However, it is also important that people have access to public data when necessary. Minnesota’s current data practice laws work pretty well, but I think there are parts that our Legislature can examine and update to meet modern challenges. Public schools have been receiving an increased amount of data requests in recent years. These requests can be incredibly costly to schools, especially if lawyers need to be consulted to help determine what is public vs private data. Some of these requests come from third parties looking to monetize the data they are requesting. At a time when many of our schools are struggling financially, looking into updating the laws to allow schools to better recoup these costs is a smart idea. We shouldn’t be allowing companies to profit off of data in a way that costs our schools (and our taxpayers) money.
Duane Quam
Court orders should be required to access personal data. With all the interconnected and smart devices, your personal information is on multiple devices. Add to that is the common monitoring of your location, we need to protect your data. This should be revisited every few years to insure it keeps up with changing technology.
On the other side, it is common for bad actors in our schools to jump to new schools when a complaint is made. The internal investigation takes a long time and stops when they stop being an employee. Too often we see stories about someone taking advantage of students, usually it’s not the first school they worked at. When a person is scheduled for an interview, the HR at that school should get to see the personnel file from their current school. It’s a very small percentage, but we need to protect our children.
LookingAhead:
In November, voters in Byron will be voting on an operating levy for the first time in school history. As someone who has (Rep. Quam) and currently serves (Heather Holmes) on the School Board, do you plan on voting yes on the levy, why or why not? In addition, what is one piece of legislation you feel needs to be changed in order to avoid future local operating levies in the future?
Limit of 250 words.