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Maple Valley School Board certifies June 22 election, accepts official returns and approves election expenses
Summary
At a six-minute canvassing meeting in Tower City on June 22, the Maple Valley School Board accepted the official returns for the June 22 school election, recorded winners for district board seats, noted ballot questions (including a posted- minutes question marked YES), approved election expenses and adjourned.
The Maple Valley School Board formally certified the June 22, 2026, school election returns at a canvassing meeting in Tower City on June 22, accepting the official returns and approving election-related expenses.
Board member Dan Wendel moved to accept the canvass and the returns as presented by the judges and the canvassing board; Board member Bryce Kasowski seconded. The board recorded a roll-call vote with Joey Bata, Bryce Kasowski, Jennifer Koller, Dan Wendel, George Richman and Sara Zaun voting yes. Amanda Olauson, Dustin Theurer and Megan McKay were absent. The motion carried, Yes=6, No=0, Absent=3.
The official returns listed winners for three-year school board seats: Megan Pfeifer (Buffalo), Amanda Olauson (Fingal), Dustin Theurer (Tower City) and Joey Bata (Oriska). The minutes also record two ballot questions: a proposal to authorize Maple Valley Public School District No. 4 to levy 5 mills for a school safety plan fund for five taxable years (citing Section 57-15-15.1 of the North Dakota Century Code) and a question asking whether the district should publish its proceedings on the Maple Valley School website and Facebook rather than in the official county newspaper; the minutes show the online-posting question recorded as YES.
The minutes note several absentee-ballot issues: six absentee ballots were returned to the school before 7:00 p.m. on June 9, 2026; one arrived after the election and was ineligible for processing; one envelope signature did not match the absentee application; and five ballots were not counted on Election Day because of potential discrepancies. The minutes state the Business Manager investigated those five ballots and that they could be included in the results.
Board member Bryce Kasowski moved to approve election expenses; Board member George Richman seconded and the motion carried, according to the minutes. Board member Jennifer Koller moved to adjourn; Board member Dan Wendel seconded, and the canvassing meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m.
The minutes include a tabulated list of vote totals by candidate and region as recorded on election day and added on canvass day. Signature lines for the Business Manager and the Board President are included in the minutes but left blank.
