UPDATE: ISD 199 Technology Levy Defeated

Update (12:01 p.m., Mar. 28) Below is a post-election statement from Dr. Deirdre Wells, Superintendent of Inver Grove Heights Community Schools: 

I’d like to thank the 845 voters who clearly understand and acknowledge the differences between their past experiences and the educational needs that currently exist as we work to educate students for the future.

Secondly, I’d like to acknowledge that many, many more than 1,614 persons voted no, because not voting in Inver Grove Heights is the same as casting a 'no' vote.

We acknowledge that and are disappointed that we have not, through all of our efforts of educating our voters, been able to move them from a historical perspective of education based on their experiences knowing that we are no longer educating for the past, but for the future.

Finally, I’d like to apologize to the students and staff for once again failing to gain the level of resource support they need, are asking for and deserve so that they too have the same level of support equivalent to their peers in all of our surrounding districts: South St. Paul, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan, Hastings, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan and South Washington County.  

We will continue to advocate on behalf of our students.

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Original (10:30 p.m., Mar. 27) According to unofficial results—as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night—the ISD 199 technology levy was defeated 1,614 to 845.

If passed, the initiative would have been authorized for 10 years, thereby making the total estimated cost of the projects around $7 million.

According to ISD 199 literature, the money would have been used to pay for server costs, new software technology and the support and maintenance of new hardware. 

Give us your impressions in the comment stream below about the defeat of the ISD 199 technology levy. 

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