Shakopee school board formally canvasses Nov. 4 operating-levy results, records vote

Shakopee Public School District board members met Nov. 13, 2025, to administer the canvassing oath and formally canvass results from the Nov. 4 special election on an operating-levy authorization. After a brief presentation of the abstract and supporting poll tapes, the board approved a resolution to file the canvass and move forward with required documentation.

Tiffany Olsen, director of communications and strategic development, led the board through the canvassing procedure and said materials before members included an abstract and a resolution for filing with the commissioner (transcript reference: "MDV") and Scott County clerk Julie Hanson. "Scott County has been very, very supportive and ensured that we had a very ethical and smooth election," Olsen said, noting the packet includes poll tapes, polling-place summaries and multiple closing reports.

Olsen explained the abstract summarizes results reported to the secretary of state and highlighted items for members to note, including the number of registered voters as of 7 a.m. on election day and the treatment of blank or defective ballots in the tallies. She also described four separate closings summarized in the materials: the district absentee room, two City of Prior Lake absentee closings, and election-day tabulator summaries.

A board member asked for clarification about "undervotes." Olsen said an undervote can reflect a ballot submitted without a mark for a question or an empty ballot scanned by the tabulator and observed that lower participation on a second ballot question is typical.

The board then moved to a motion to approve the canvassing of the election results "for the operating levy authorization as presented." According to the roll call recorded by Olsen, members Valdez, Peterson, Smith, Aldridge, Johnson and Brophy voted "Yes." Member Zutnik was noted as absent. The transcript records the clerk's notation "resolution passes 61"; the roll-call record in the meeting shows six affirmative votes and one absence. Olsen said the formal canvassing documents would be executed at the conclusion of the meeting.

With no further discussion, a motion to adjourn was made and seconded; the voice vote was "Aye" and Chair Smith declared the meeting adjourned.

The district will file the canvass documentation with the local officials identified in the meeting materials and retain the abstract and poll tapes as part of the record. No additional board actions or implementation directions were taken during the special meeting.