At its Nov. 24, 2025 meeting the Moorhead Area Public Schools Board of Education heard from Christine Berg, a union representative, who described how union organizing and in-kind support contributed to passage of the district's 2025 funding referendum.

"This really wouldn't have passed without Sarah and Penn's contribution and all the time that they put in," Berg said, describing volunteer recruitment and coordination. Berg told the board that Education Minnesota provided two mailings on the union's behalf (in-kind values reported as just over $3,800 for the September mailing and just over $5,000 for the October mailing) and that the organized phone-banking effort generated substantial outreach: 13 shift types, 126 two-hour shifts totaling 252 volunteer hours from 53 volunteers, a dialer list of a little over 23,000 numbers and roughly 1,300 answered calls.

The presentation emphasized outreach strategy and community feedback gathered during the campaign. Berg said supporters frequently voiced backing for teachers and students; those opposed often said funds had been mismanaged and expressed concerns about special education support. "Overwhelmingly," Berg said, "we heard from the community that they support the students and the teachers." She summarized outreach aims as educating voters about what referendum money can and cannot be used for, and following up with supporters through targeted calls.

Board members took up routine business before and after the presentation. The board approved the consent agenda (which included the Nov. 10, 2025 minutes, claims, personnel actions and staffing requests) and voted to accept monetary donations from the Edward Jones Trust (for homeless services), Wes Schwab (fan-bus travel) and Heeb and James Shipp (for homeless services); administration was directed to send thank-you letters. Multiple policy screenings were presented (Policies 102, 528, 533, 611, 625, 711, 712, 716, 702/718, 907 and student surveys); staff said most required no substantive changes and only legal references were updated where noted.

The board voted to close the public meeting at 6:21 p.m. "pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 13D.03" for the purpose of discussing negotiations; the board reconvened the public meeting at 7:10 p.m. and adjourned at 7:11 p.m. The superintendent told the board the external audit and truth-in-taxation items were not ready for tonight and would be scheduled for the December meeting.

Votes at a glance
- Approve agenda: motion carried by voice vote (motion made and seconded).
- Approve consent agenda: motion carried by voice vote (motion by Keith, second by Cassidy).
- Accept donations and direct administration to send thank-you letters: motion carried by voice vote (motion by Keith Sigler, second by Cassidy).
- Close public meeting for negotiations: motion carried by voice vote; closed session invoked under Minnesota Statutes section 13D.03.
- Reopen public meeting and adjourn: motions carried by voice vote.

What board members and the public said
Christine Berg, union representative, gave the presentation on referendum support and outreach, including specific figures for volunteer shifts and dialer contact rates. Berg said volunteers and partner unions (including Education Minnesota and Northern Plains United Labor Council) provided in-kind mailings and phone-banking support. Board members asked procedural clarification questions about policies and e-learning contingency days; no substantive policy revisions were adopted tonight.

Next steps
The board will take up the external audit and truth-in-taxation items at its December meeting; members were asked to notify staff of any scheduling conflicts.