Christine Berg, a union representative, told the Moorhead Area Public Schools board on Nov. 24 that local union members and Education Minnesota’s in‑kind mailings and phone banking were central to the successful 2025 referendum campaign.

Berg said the union qualified for two in‑kind mailings through Education Minnesota and that those mailings amounted to about $3,800 in September and just over $5,000 in October. She said the union’s membership dues provided $2 per member that went toward phone‑banking expenses, food for volunteers and related outreach costs.

“This really wouldn't have passed without Sarah and Penn's contribution and all the time that they put in,” Berg said, describing hours spent organizing volunteers. She described the phone‑banking effort as the campaign’s largest single activity: 53 volunteers completed approximately 126 two‑hour shifts (about 252 total volunteer hours), the district’s dialer reached a little over 23,000 phone numbers and roughly 1,300 calls were answered.

Berg said volunteers took photos, coordinated multiple weekly shifts beginning Sept. 17 and that other union leaders and local labor allies also participated. She told the board that feedback from supporters often emphasized backing for teachers and students, while critics raised concerns about perceived misspending and special education supports.

“The phone banking was huge,” Berg said. “From that, the community told us they support the students and the teachers.”

Board members did not press Berg with substantive questions during the presentation. Superintendent Lee later noted that the district will take up audit and truth‑in‑taxation items at the December meeting.

Why it matters: School‑district referendums fund local priorities and can affect staffing and programs. Berg’s presentation provided the board with a summary of outreach, volunteer participation and amounts that supporters say helped secure passage. The board received the presentation as informational; no board action on the referendum itself occurred at this meeting.

Next steps: The superintendent said the district’s audit and truth‑in‑taxation matters will be scheduled for the December meeting, where the board will review related financial documentation.