The Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council, AFL-CIO had endorsed school board candidates in two school districts, helping to win three of four races.

In eight school districts, the Minneapolis CLUC had endorsed school levies, helping to win seven of 17 ballot questions. Of the eight districts, three districts — Bloomington, Monticello and New Prague — won all their ballot questions. Two districts — Anoka-Hennepin and Osseo — won some ballot questions and lost others. Three districts — Buffalo, Elk River, and Robbinsdale — lost all ballot questions.

Statewide, 99 school districts put school levy questions in front of voters. That\'s the second highest number ever, according to the Minnesota School Boards Association.

The School Boards Association reported that 67.6 percent of school districts passed at least one levy question. According to the Association\'s website, 61 districts passed all questions, 6 districts had mixed results, and 32 districts lost all questions.

The Minneapolis CLUC\'s three suburban advisory councils were actively engaged in their local communities, working to help pass endorsed school levies and endorsed school board candidates. Union members worked at phone banks, went doorknocking, and helped prepare mailings to send to union voters.

School Board Races

Anoka-Hennepin
In the Anoka-Hennepin School District, the AFL-CIO endorsed candidates were Tom Heidemann in Sub-District 1, Marci Anderson in Sub-District 2, and Warren Harder in Sub-District 5.

Tom Heidemann, the AFL-CIO endorsed incumbent, ran unopposed and polled 5,917 votes.

AFL-CIO endorsed Marci Anderson defeated three-term incumbent Dan Cook. The vote was 3,100 (55 percent) for Anderson and 2,385 (43 percent) for Cook. Anderson led Cook in all six precincts in the sub-district.

AFL-CIO endorsed Warren Harder, however, lost his attempt to unseat eight-year incumbent Scott Wenzel. Harder polled 2,288 votes (42 percent) compared to 3,069 votes for Wenzel (57 percent). Harder trailed Wenzel in all seven precincts in the sub-district.

A life-long union member, Harder is director of organizing for Glaziers Local 1324. He ran for school board with the endorsement of the Minneapolis CLUC, Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota, the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council, and SEIU Minnesota State Council.

"A lot of people stuck their necks out for me," Harder said at an election night gathering in Brooklyn Park. "It\'s tough to beat an incumbent."

Monticello
AFL-CIO endorsed Janet Glover ran unopposed for an open seat on the Monticello school board, polling 2,333 votes. Glover is a long-time union member. She formerly was president of her AFSCME local when she was a financial worker for Wright County. She now works for the State of Minnesota and is a member of MAPE.

School Levies

Anoka-Hennepin
In the Anoka-Hennepin School District, the largest in the state, voters approved two of the four school funding questions on the ballot, "providing funds to avoid cuts in programs and services," the district\'s website reported.

Question 1, asking voters to renew an operating levy, passed by 29,772 votes yes (62 percent) to 18,417 votes no (38 percent).

Question 2, asking voters to provide additional funding for educational programs, passed by 27,179 votes yes (56 percent) to 20,987 votes no (44 percent).

Question 3 asked voters to restore transportation and other services and decrease activity fees. Question 3 lost by 23,831 votes yes (49.6 percent) to 24,193 votes no (50.4 percent).

Question 4, a bond referendum to improve technology, lost by 23,288 votes yes (49 percent) to 24,664 votes no (51 percent).

Bloomington
By close margins, voters approved two levy questions for the Bloomington Public Schools.

Question 1, an operating levy, passed 8,675 votes yes (50.8 percent) to 8,402 votes no (49.2 percent).

Question 2, a technology levy, passed 8,619 votes yes (50.4 percent) to 8,474 votes no (49.6 percent).

Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose
Voters in the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District defeated all three levy questions.

Question 1, to maintain current programs and class sizes, lost by 2,892 votes yes (49 percent) to 3,031 votes no (51 percent)

Question 2, to replace and upgrade technology, lost by 2,545 votes yes (43 percent) to 3,344 votes no (57 percent).

Question 3, to reduce class sizes and add K-8 programs, lost by 2,459 votes yes (42 percent) to 3,431 votes no (58 percent).

Elk River
Voters defeated two school questions in the Elk River school district.

Question 1, an operating levy, lost with 4,624 votes yes (37 percent) and 7,915 votes no (63 percent).

Question 2, a bond referendum to build new schools, lost with 5,164 votes yes (41 percent) and 7,389 votes no (59 percent)

Monticello
The school levy for Monticello schools passed, winning 2,381 votes yes (56 percent) to 1,847 votes no (44 percent).

New Prague
The school levy for the New Prague schools passed, winning 2,413 votes yes (55 percent) to 1,942 votes no (45 percent).

Osseo
For the Osseo Area Schools, voters passed one of the three school levy questions on the ballot.

Question 1, to renew the current levy, passed by 10,863 votes yes (54 percent) to 9,262 votes no (46 percent).

Question 2, to sustain the district with additional funds, lost narrowly by 9,940 votes yes (49 percent) to 10,173 votes no (51 percent).

Question 3, for new technology, lost by a greater margin, with 8,942 votes yes (44 percent) and 11,366 votes no (56 percent).

Robbinsdale
The school levy for the Robbinsdale schools failed to pass, with 9,660 votes yes (47 percent) and 10,733 votes no (53 percent).

Steve Share edits the Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council. Visit the CLUC website, www.minneapolisunions.org