How Closely Can District Employees Become Involved With Elections?

Another Minnetonka School Board election is over, but the campaign process itself had some candidates and community members wondering how involved, if at all, school district employees should become during the campaign season.

An e-mail widely circulated by a special education paraprofessional who works for the district supported four “great, conservative, pro-family candidates.” Recipients of the Oct. 5 email were —the first letters of the four candidates’ last names.

Some community members also alleged a district agenda to get voters to elect the “insiders”—incumbent candidates and other individuals who were previously involved with district organizations or boards.

On Oct. 27, a notice regarding campaign policy was given to all Minnetonka School District employees. The memo includes references to state law that no school district funds, equipment or resources may be used to promote an individual candidate or position. “The district does not take a position on candidates,” the notice states. The notice details actions district staff can and can't take, though there is no firm guideline for punishment for employees caught breaking district rules.

“We’d have to take the situation at the time,” said Superintendent Dennis Peterson.

Out of school, Peterson added, employees are allowed to share their views with anyone regarding candidates or issues with the schools. Peterson seemed unconcerned with any appearance of a conflict of interest.

“Certainly on one hand, they are citizens who have rights,” he said. “For the most part, the limitations are that you really can’t promulgate your views with students and parents during school hours.”

Outside Looking In?

The e-mail written by the district employee was sent during work hours on a weekday but, according to the district, there is no record at that time of the employee logged into a school computer, so there was no disciplinary action to take.

As for the allegation of a district agenda to get voters to elect “insiders,” Peterson said it’s not an idea the district creates—it’s just the way things naturally happen.

Jim Patterson, a past candidate who didn't win a seat on the school board four years ago, considers himself an “outsider” and sees things a little differently. Patterson claimed that a district block was running in the election he was involved in.

“The challenge is that the district is just so concerned with keeping control over this very important group of seven people that they do a really a good job of making it extremely difficult for any outsiders to gain traction in these elections,” Patterson told Patch.

Patterson went on to say that he believes the school board needs fresh voices.

“It was clear that the district wanted one person and not the other,” he said. “I believe that that type of an attitude leads to too much similar thinking. The board needs more diversity, not just total animosity and contention, but more diversity of thought.”

, the E in the , said while he is disappointed he didn't earn a seat on the board, he doesn't believe there was any conspiracy by district leaders—rather, just a successful attempt to keep the status quo. 

"That doesn't make them the 'evil empire,'" he said. "What is clear from my perspective is that there are certain candidates who, in the interest of the school continuing on the path they've been on, I think the administration feels most comfortable with having on the board. And those are the four candidates who won."

'Not an Exclusive Club'

 was re-elected to the school board and the top vote-getter three weeks ago. She first got involved with the schools on an advisory council when her kids were in the early childhood program.

"I guess I don't really know what an 'outsider' means," Wagner said. "It's not an exclusive club."

Wagner said thousands of people volunteer with Minnetonka schools.

“We have people who, over time, get involved with the schools,” Dr. Peterson said. “And so, over time, those people are known to their colleagues and friends and are encouraged to run for the school board."

Peterson contrasted "volunteers have been around for six, seven, eight or nine years" with "newcomers, who are known by nobody except they put up yard signs."

Peterson advised beginning with participation at the school level, through the PTA, PTO or with an activity their children are involved in. Information can be found on volunteering at your school on the "For Parents" section of the school district’s website.

"That seemed to be the kind of person the ‘STEM’ group is calling the insiders," Peterson said of the volunteers. "Well, they are not insiders—they just have given their time, and I think people recognize that and they rise to a point where they may be encouraged to run for the school board.”