2026 District 112 School Board Candidate
“We have made great progress in academic performance by applying a rigorous analytical approach as well as better coordination across the district for best practices. We continue to outpace the state and peer districts with our progress in most academic categories. We must continue to challenge our educators to further enhance the performance of our learners.”
— Tim Klein —
Name: Tim Klein
Email address: timoklein@yahoo.com
City of residence: Chanhassen
Professional and volunteer background:
Corporate finance and strategy executive; longtime soccer and hockey coach in local clubs; approaching 16 years on the School Board.
What makes you the best candidate in this race:
I have invaluable experience in serving the ECCS community on the School Board. This includes in-depth knowledge of complex school financials, challenging labor negotiations, broad educational programs and a well-established relationship with our educators and leaders. I also bring vast professional experience in corporate finance and strategy. This background has the community well in navigating difficult financial constraints and bridging gaps with the District’s labor groups. I am fully invested in our community as a resident, parent and coach for over 25 years with five children who are proud K-12 ECCS graduates.
What would be your top 3 priorities if re-elected to the District 112 School Board:
1) Ensure the next long-term plan best serves the changing needs of the community as learners concentrate more in the west with the effects of land development and aging in place.
2) Foster the continued improvement in academic achievement ahead of the state and peer districts by continuing to support use of detailed analytics and best practices across the district.
3) Support constructive relations with labor unions to balance attracting great educators while managing scarce taxpayer funds.
Are there any programs you would like to see augmented or eliminated if you are elected to the School Board:
The district has already eliminated a number of programs in multiple budget cuts over the past 6 years. I would like the district to explore expansion of programs in areas such as gifted/talented, music and engineering/technical programs.
How would you address, if at all, ongoing property tax increases:
Consistent with my tenure, I always take the utmost care in considering an increase to our local tax burden. Moreover, I do not foresee any future notable tax increases after the passing of last year’s referendum. As usual, we will continue to challenge the budget and staffing assumptions (the bulk of our expenses) to ensure that our limited resources are used appropriately. I’m confident that the individual homeowner tax rates for our district will decline with budget restraint and growth in our community as they have historically.
Are you pleased with the progress the district has made over the past year? Why or why not:
I am pleased, but I am not content. We have made great progress in academic performance by applying a rigorous analytical approach as well as better coordination across the district for best practices. We continue to outpace the state and peer districts with our progress in most academic categories. We must continue to challenge our educators to further enhance the performance of our learners. I am encouraged by the support of the district as seen in community surveys as well as the strong success of last year’s operating referendum, but realize the momentum cannot slow.
