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Board debates language and contingencies for multi-question facilities bond; seeks clearer, less site‑specific wording
Summary
Trustees debated draft ballot language for an upcoming facilities bond referendum, focusing on whether question 3 should be site‑specific, contingent on other questions, or removed; CFO and counsel were asked to clarify legal implications of changing language already submitted for Department of Education review.
The Robbinsdale Area School Board spent a sustained portion of its July 9 meeting reviewing draft ballot language for a proposed facilities bond referendum and debating how to present three linked questions to voters.
CFO Hoheisel explained bond counsel prepared draft language that had been submitted for review and comment to the Department of Education. Board members said they supported asking voters about capital improvements but raised procedural and policy concerns about the wording of question 3, which as drafted referenced specific sites and uses.
Director Brintesen said the question was “far too specific” and risked locking the district into a single site for a new elementary school or facility. Director Hillenbrand suggested removing question 3 from the ballot entirely, arguing that constructing a new neighborhood elementary while existing district elementary inventory could be repurposed is difficult to justify without clearer planning. Others asked whether question 3 could be made contingent on passage of questions 1 and 2 so voters would not create contradictory results.
Several board members urged simpler ballot language and stronger public messaging. Director Bowman and Director Bassett requested a clearer description of what the district might lose by omitting question 3 and asked for cost comparisons (rehab vs. new build) and information on parity across attendance areas. Director Wutto raised equity concerns about how proposed building changes would affect different neighborhoods and cautioned the board about divisive messaging.
CFO Hoheisel and counsel cautioned that altering language already forwarded to the Department of Education could constitute a material change and might restart the review-and-comment timeline; the CFO asked for more legal guidance before the board finalizes wording. The board directed staff to research whether proposed wording changes would trigger additional review and to return with refined, less site‑specific language and options for contingency structures.
No formal vote was taken on ballot language at the meeting. Administration said refined wording, legal advice on contingency language, and messaging plans will be presented at the next board meeting.
