Wayzata board votes 4-3 to move school board elections to even-numbered years; adopts three-year transition

The Wayzata Public Schools Board of Education voted 4-3 on June 23 to move its school board elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years and approved a transition plan that establishes three-year terms for members elected in 2025 and 2027, with four-year terms beginning in 2028.

Board members debated financial and civic implications before the roll call. Supporters cited expected cost savings and higher turnout in even-year elections; opponents said odd-year elections better allow the district to focus local campaigns on Wayzata-specific issues and keep national partisan rhetoric out of school contests.

In public comment, Cheryl Olsen told the board, “I have concerns about the vote to move school board elections to even years,” saying she believed the board had not given enough opportunity for community input. A teacher who identified herself only as Rachel, and said she is the teachers union president, urged caution about moving dollars away from classrooms and noted, “The savings of over a $100,000 every 2 years, that's pretty significant.”

The board first voted on a motion to adopt a resolution moving Wayzata school board general elections to even-numbered years; that motion passed 4-3. The roll call recorded yes votes from Directors Paras Bende, Sheila Pryor, Valentina Ayers and Milan Sahoni, and no votes from Directors Dan Genestra, Sarah Johansen and Heidi Kader. (A yes vote on the initial motion indicated support for changing to even-year elections.)

After that vote the board considered two options for transitioning current terms: a one-year extension for all members (a five-year option overall) and a three-year transition. The motion to extend current terms by one year failed for lack of a second. The board then adopted a resolution to set three-year terms for members elected in 2025 and 2027 and four-year terms thereafter; that resolution passed 4-3 on a roll call with yes votes from Directors Valentina Ayers, Dan Genestra, Sheila Pryor and Milan Sahoni, and no votes from Directors Sarah Johansen, Paras Bende and Heidi Kader.

Under the adopted resolution the board directed that the county auditor be notified that the district will hold its general elections in November of even-numbered years beginning in 2028, and that terms of office for members elected in 2025 and 2027 will be three years to effect the transition.

Board discussion touched on multiple considerations: the estimated biennial election savings cited by speakers and some board members; concerns about partisanship and nationalized campaign issues in even-year ballots; historical turnout (several board members referenced that only a small share of the electorate voted in prior odd-year contests); and administrative implications for aligning levies and bonds with election calendars. Several members said they wanted more formal public engagement but proceeded with the special-meeting votes.

The board’s action was procedural and binding; the district will notify the county auditor and publish the change in accordance with Minnesota election law and local practice. The district packet and the adopted resolutions provide further legal language and timelines for the transition.