Bloomington board change rejected

A plan to change the framework of the Bloomington School Board met up with Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto pen on March 27.

Sponsored by Rep. Ann Lenczewski (DFL-Bloomington) and Sen. Dan Larson (DFL-Bloomington), the bill sought to establish single-member election districts for part of the Bloomington School Board to better represent the diverse population of one of the state’s largest school districts, supporters say.

In his veto message, Pawlenty said the bill provided a legislative solution that was not being sought by either the Bloomington community or school board. “It is also unnecessary because a petition process already exists in state law for community members to seek division of a school board into election districts.”

Lenczewski said that unequal representation has been a recurring problem in the district, and that this bill is needed to ensure equal representation. All members currently serve at-large, but six of the seven members live on one side of the city.

The bill would have modeled the school board makeup after that used by the Bloomington City Council, consisting of four single-seat districts with the remaining three seats being filled by at-large members.

“This bill removes local control and authority from the hands of the Bloomington school district voters,” Pawlenty said. “I am also concerned that this is directed only at Bloomington and invites a piecemeal approach to legislation addressing school district elections.”

The bill was passed 91-42 by the House March 25 and by the Senate 41-18 on March 17.

HF1394/SF457*/CH163