Election guide: What to know before you vote May 16 for the Sioux Falls school board

Morgan Matzen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·3 min read

There will be three names on Sioux Falls residents’ ballots on May 16: Dawn Marie Johnson, Brian Mattson and Nick Zachariasen, vying for one three-year term on the Sioux Falls School District’s Board of Education.

But of those three, Zachariasen announced early in the race that he was no longer campaigning for the spot, and urged support for Johnson instead. However, he didn’t drop out in time to remove his name from the ballot.

Two candidates remain in the Sioux Falls School District Board of Education race: Dawn Marie Johnson (left) and Brian Mattson (right).
Two candidates remain in the Sioux Falls School District Board of Education race: Dawn Marie Johnson (left) and Brian Mattson (right).

Here’s everything you need to know about this election that will determine who has a seat at the table to make major policy decisions affecting the more than 24,000 children in South Dakota's largest public school district.

Who is actively running?

Johnson is currently the director of leadership and culture at the South Dakota Afterschool Network, is a mother to one child at Rosa Parks Elementary School, previously served as the Career Technical Education and Community Outreach Coordinator for the Sioux Falls School District in the Joe Foss Program at Axtell Park and serves on the district’s Indian Education Parent Committee and the Bridging the Gap Community Foundation Board.

Mattson is a private investor, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, father, grandparent, and a former candidate for Republican precinct committeeman last year endorsed by the conservative organization Patriot Ripple Effect for that campaign.

More: How much Sioux Falls school board candidates have raised, spent ahead of May election

The two have collectively raised more than $21,000 on their campaigns. Johnson has raised $17,770.50 so far, and Mattson has raised $3,361.

More: Sioux Falls school board candidates debate social studies standards, teacher pay

Both candidates have participated in an Argus Leader Q&A on their campaign positions, and a forum hosted by the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls League of Women Voters.

More: Get to know the 2 remaining Sioux Falls school board candidates after one dropped out

Where and when can I vote?

You can vote early from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. now until May 15 at the Instructional Planning Center, if you aren’t able to vote on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Polling places on May 16 include:

  • Peace Lutheran Church, 5509 W. 41st St.

  • Memorial Middle School, 1401 S. Sertoma Ave.

  • Career & Tech Ed Academy, 4700 W. Career Circle

  • Maricar Community Center, 400 N. Valley View Road

  • Oyate Community Center, 2421 W. 15th St.

  • Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2200 S. Western Ave.

  • First Lutheran Church, 327 S. Dakota Ave.

  • Wesley United Methodist Church, 1700 E. 6th St.

  • Kenny Anderson Community Center, 3701 E. 3rd St.

  • Morningside Community Center, 2400 S. Bahnson Ave.

  • Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 5500 E. 57th St.

  • Faith Baptist Fellowship Hall, 601 W. 57th St.

  • Instructional Planning Center, 201 E. 38th St.

Why should I vote?

The election that put board member Cynthia Mickelson in her seat saw a turnout of less than 27% of all registered voters in the district, and that was for a joint city and school board election.

The last school-only election, which saw newcomer Marc Murren elected to his first term and board president Kate Serenbetz elected to a fifth term, saw only 5.13% turnout.

There was no election in 2022. The event was canceled for the first time since 2008, because no one decided to run, allowing board vice president Carly Reiter and board member Nan Baker to keep their seats for another term.

More: Three candidates emerge to take Cynthia Mickelson’s seat on the Sioux Falls school board

School board members make big decisions. That includes multi-million dollar budgets and whether those budgets should include cutting programs like gymnastics. The board is also responsible for deciding where future schools will be; where your kids and neighbors attend school through boundary changes; contracts with teachers and administrators, school safety policies, the hiring of the superintendent and more.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: What to know in the May 16 Sioux Falls school board election