Voters Set to Weigh in on School Board, Levy, and Bonds for 833
Written by Daniel Song
Despite 2023 not having any elections with statewide or national implications, there are still many key local elections happening this November, such as school board elections and bond questions. In this year's school board election for SoWashCo, there are eleven candidates running for three seats: Fekadu Kassa Ayichew, Chad Borseth, Ryan Clarke, Priscilla Kathryn Dimbo, Melinda Dols, Randall J Johnson, Jaime Kokaisel, Anthony Mahmood, Satonia Moore, Simi Patnaik, and Molly Schaefer. Melinda Dols and Simi Patnaik are the two incumbents running for re-election this year.
Similar to the 2021 election, two groups of candidates have formed. Jamie Kokaisel, Ryan Clarke, and Anthony Mahmood are running together as a slate of three candidates. They are focusing their campaigns on empowering parents. For instance, Jamie Kokaisel has been endorsed by District 833 Parents United and the Minnesota Parents Alliance. Additionally, Clarke’s website states his perspective as “Parental rights supersede that of the school district. Parents also have an obligation to be attentive and engaged in their children's education. Educators have a responsibility to support parents, and parents have a responsibility to support educators. Education is a team sport.”
A different slate of three has also emerged. Incumbents Melinda Dols and Simi Patnaik, as well as Satonia Moore, share a platform of prioritizing student wellness. Simi Patnaik states on her website that her educational priorities include getting “students what they need to feel safe and supported so they can focus on academics.”
The United Teachers of South Washington County (UTSWC) endorsed Melinda Dols, Simi Patnaik, and Satonia Moore. The UTSWC is a labor union representing educators from across the district. A statement from the UTSWC can be found here when scrolling down to “2023 UTSWC Endorsements for School Board”. As part of their rationale for endorsing Dols, Patnaik, and Moore, the union cited the fact that all three endorsees expressed support for “highly qualified teachers and support staff.”
For more information about the candidates, the nonpartisan League of Women Voters hosted a candidate forum on September 17, 2023, where all candidates were invited to attend. The complete recording of the forum can be accessed here. The South Washington County Telecommunications Commission has also included individual candidate profiles, which can be found under “School Board District 833 Candidates” when scrolling down this page to the Candidate Profiles section.
Also on this year's ballot are two bond questions and a technology projects levy. To provide voters with information about the bonds, the SoWashCo school district has provided an FAQ to answer the most common questions. If any of these bond questions or levy pass, there will be a property tax increase. Bond Question 1 addresses safety and security enhancements and funds additions and renovations at secondary schools. If Bond Question 1 passes, there will be a planned addition to East Ridge, addressing the overcrowding that everyone knows all too well. Bond Question 2 addresses elementary school space at four elementary schools projected to exceed capacity and funds renovations for bathrooms at five elementary schools. Bond Question 2 can only pass if Bond Question 1 passes. Bond Question 3, the technology levy, funds instructional technology, support staffing, maintenance and support for student and staff devices and enhanced technology infrastructure.
For more information about the bonds and levy, as well as election/voting information, please navigate to this link. The Minnesota Secretary Of State also has a list of comprehensive voting resources. Any US citizen 18 and above is eligible to vote. You can vote by mail or in person from September 22 through November 6. November 7th is Election Day, and East Ridge will not have school that day.
The Ridge Review has asked all eleven candidates for their responses to two key questions about the bond levies and their policy priorities for the school board. All available responses can be accessed here. The Ridge Review strongly encourages all members of the SoWashCo community to review these responses, as it is a valuable way to hear directly from the candidates.
For a complete list of contact information for all the candidates, as well as all available candidate websites, please visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s election filings page here.
The future of East Ridge and SoWashCo schools is at stake. Please make a plan to vote!
