School board will change
New funds available
as referendum passes

By Dawn Slade
Posted 11/13/02

The one dollar operating referendum that the Milaca Public School District 912 had on the Tuesday, Nov. 5 ballot passed, but not by much.

Considering the tax increase most district residents would incur was zero, the margin between those votes cast for and against the referendum was surprisingly close according to some school board members.

Results of that referendum vote are as follows: Mille Lacs County residents voted in favor of the referendum, 2,035 to 1,438; Kanabec County residents voted 13 to 7 in favor; Benton County residents voted against the referendum, 67 to 62; Isanti County also voted against the referendum - 6 to 5; as did Morrison County, with 96 votes against and 49 in favor of the referendum.

In total, 2,164 residents in the school district voted for the referendum, with 1,614 voting against it.

The state funded portion will be $115,380 for each of 10 years. The local levy portion is $592 per year for 10 years for the entire district (not per individual), which means those district residents who own property valued at $300,000-$899,999, will be paying $1 per year for the next 10 years. Under that $300,000 mark, residents pay nothing. There is no tax increase for those residents.

"The School District is very appreciative of the strong positive vote," said Milaca School Superintendent Dr. Barbra Zakrajsek.

"Many people stopped to ask if the referendum passed and were genuinely pleased with the result. This is a community with solid and positive support for our school system and our kids. Thank you for this assistance."

School board results

The Milaca School Board will have two new members. Todd Quaintance and Bart Naumann are the newest members elected to the board on Nov. 5.

Incumbents Laurie Gahm and Jackie Struffert will also continue to represent Milaca Public Schools on the board.

Four candidates were chosen out of the six who ran.

Incumbents Calvin Beumer and Steve Wunderlich, who is currently chairman, were not re-elected.

Gahm received the strongest support with 2,331 votes, Struffert received 1,934, Naumann took 1,742 votes, and Quaintance rounded it out with 1,711 votes.

Wunderlich finished with 1,511 votes and Beumerís total came in at 1,476.

Wunderlich said of the election, "The people spoke. Iím disappointed, but at the same time theyíve got a good board and I wish them luck."

"Todd and Bart are going to be two very good board members," Beumer said. "I thoroughly enjoyed being on the board for nine years. I had a wonderful experience working with many different administrators, teachers, staff and community members - and a couple good reporters. I have no regrets."

Beumer added, "At one time I knocked somebody else off the board, so thatís the way it goes."

Gahm said of her continuance on the school board, "Iím very excited. Iím excited to represent the kids and to try and do whatís best for them over the next four years. I was surprised - I thought the four incumbents would get in, but Iím excited to work with the two new ones. New is always good, too. I think we have work cut out for us!"

Naumann said of his election to school board, "I want to say thanks for the support I got, thatís very nice. Hopefully I can do a good job for everybody. Iím looking forward to the challenges, and hopefully we can keep the district strong and running smoothly."

Naumann and Quaintance have already met with outgoing board member Wunderlich to help with the transition process.

Naumann added, "It should be very interesting and Iím looking forward to the training for new members. Hopefully, we can operate the system in the big picture and plan for the future down the road, whether itís a three-year or five-year plan."

Struffert said of her re-election to the board, "I really feel blessed with how many people went out to vote and the number of votes I got. I guess I was surprised. All the people that ran were good candidates."

Struffert also spoke of resuming work on the board, "I will continue to be a liaison between the school and the community. I look forward to continue working on the goals we just started with reading improvement and parent involvement."