Bill to Change Format of Rochester School Board Elections Approved by Senate

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News)- A bill that would change the format of Rochester’s School Board elections is heading to the desk of Gov. Tim Walz. 

See Also: Olmsted County Board to Decide Fate of $1.5 Million in Overbilled Property Taxes 

The legislation would scrap the so-called “alley system,” which allows anyone running for a school board seat to challenge only one candidate. 

School Board seats would be awarded to the top vote-getters with all candidates competing for the seats with each other, if Gov. Walz sings the bill. 

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A resolution unanimously approved by the Rochester Public Schools Board (RPS) last month to seek legislative approval to do away with the alley system indicates RPS is one of two districts in the state still using the alley system in school board elections. 

A bill that gets rid of the alley system by repealing the 1974 law that put it in place for RPS was introduced in both chambers earlier in the legislative session. 

Senate Approves Bill That Ends "Alley System" for Rochester School Board Elections

Last week the Minnesota House approved RPS’s request to scrap the alley system on a 124-9 vote. Rochester Rep. Tina Liebling introduced the bill and Reps. Andy Smith and Kim Hicks signed on as co-authors. 

Read More: Minnesota House Approves Bill to Change Format for Rochester School Board Elections 

On Monday the Minnesota Senate passed the bill 41-26. Rochester Sen. Liz Boldon authored the bill and Sen. Carla Nelson was signed on as a co-author. 

If the governor signs the bill into law the change in format would be in effect for this year’s election.