Staff reviews data-practices law and gives guidance on referendum advocacy and board conduct at events

District staff provided two handouts for the work session: a staff-facing guide and a one-page reference for board members outlining permissible activity related to an upcoming capital-levy referendum. Staff emphasized that when acting at the board table or representing the district, board members should "educate and not advocate," and that staff and board members may serve on volunteer 'vote yes' or 'vote no' committees on their own time and money but may not use district resources to promote a ballot question.

Directors asked for clarification about what constitutes "advocacy language" and whether board members who are candidates may wear campaign regalia at district booths. Staff said that wearing campaign materials while staffing a district booth is not appropriate; individuals may campaign on their own time in other venues. Staff also briefed directors on the Government Data Practices Act (Minn. Stat. ch. 13), explaining categories of public vs. private data and the process under district policy 7.22 for data requests. Staff noted that board members are elected officials (not district employees) and, therefore, their names are not redacted on public records; directors requested the board adopt a protocol to track board-originated data requests to avoid undue staff time.