School Board Candidate Forum October 1, 2026

The October 1, 2026 Columbia Heights Independent School District 13 school board candidate forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters, featured candidates Kristen Craig, Adam Davis, Jessica Maderas, and Laura Palmer discussing district priorities. The main budget issue was the operating levy on the November ballot: all four candidates expressed support for the levy, citing financial pressures including a reported loss of about $5 million in compensatory funding and more than $7 million in cuts over the prior decade. The transcript describes the levy request as roughly $2–3 million, with about $1 million addressed through spending cuts and the remainder temporarily covered by reserves; the exact amount is unclear. Davis opposed a separate constitutional amendment discussed in connection with school funding.

Candidates also addressed equity and student belonging, the impact of Operation Metro Surge on students and families, school safety and mental-health support, literacy and implementation of Minnesota’s Read Act, and responsible use of AI in education. The forum was a candidate event, not a board meeting: no motions, votes, contract awards, or purchasing decisions were reported. The transcript’s budget-priorities segment is incomplete, so it does not provide a clear account of proposed specific cuts or allocations.