Politics & Government
Lakeville Levy Referendum: Shock and Happiness at the Outcome
Lakeville Superintendent Dr. Lisa Snyder and a leader at Unite for 194 shared their reactions to the passing of the Lakeville Area Public Schools levy referendum.
The Lakeville levy referendum passed with 68 percent of the vote, and Lakeville Area Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Lisa Snyder is thrilled.
"We are of course all thrilled that the community came out and supported us," said Snyder.
She added that she is grateful to everyone that voted. Part of the reason for the success of the levy, Snyder believes, is the strategy that the district has adopted: increased communication and community connectedness, financial transparency and partnerships with businesses.
Campaign Manager for Unite for 194 Amy Willingham said that she was "shocked and pleased and amazed and really overwhelmed" by the approval of the levy.
"I was just amazed by the outpouring of yes votes, especially after 10 years of not passing a new operating levy," said Willingham.
Unite for 194 is a group of volunteers who worked on efforts in support of the levy. Part of those efforts included "Vote Yes" yard signs for those who wanted them.
They originally thought they would only need 500 signs, Willingham said, but those sold out in four days. The group ended up purchasing 1,500 signs in total and Willingham estimated that there were 1,200 to 1,300 signs placed in yards.
Willingham said that winning the levy by such a large margin sends the message that Lakeville residents are part of a progressive community that supports its schools and its kids.
The $5.6 million levy will allow the district to improve the integration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics into the curriculum at the elementary and middle levels, said Snyder, superintendent at Lakeville Area Public Schools.
They are also looking forward to hiring new teachers next year and decreasing class sizes, she added.
Decreasing class sizes in the third through fifth grades is a high priority area, Snyder explained, but the school board has not yet made a final determination on which classes will be impacted.
Results are unofficial as they have not yet been certified by the State Canvassing Board.
Related:
----
For updates and other information about the community, join us on Patch, Like us on Facebook and follow Lakeville Patch on Twitter.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
