ISD 2071 board directs administration to draft levy referendum after 5–2 vote

The ISD 2071 (Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) school board on May 18 directed administration to prepare a levy referendum resolution for consideration at the district's June meeting after a 5–2 roll-call vote.

Board member Leiding moved to have administration prepare the referendum resolution and Jones seconded. The motion carried 5–2 with Leiding, Hoeft, Sargent, Rose and Jones voting in favor and Paul and Chair Maurer voting against. No final levy or ballot language was adopted at the meeting; the motion directed staff to draft the formal resolution for the board to consider in June.

Supporters during the discussion framed the action as a procedural step to allow the district to bring formal referendum language and financial details to the board for review before any public vote. The board scheduled a special meeting to approve the levy referendum resolution and a study session on June 1 to review Elementary and Secondary Building Read Act updates. Opponents said they were not ready to move to a referendum at this time; specific concerns were recorded as part of the meeting discussion but no alternate motion was passed.

The motion was recorded in the official minutes and will return to the board as a draft resolution in June, where the board may vote again to place a levy question before district voters.