Lakeville School Board Election 2025 — Nicholson vs. Reichenberger Voter Guide
TLDR
- Lakeville Area Schools (ISD 194) is holding a special election on November 4, 2025 to fill one school board seat
- The two candidates are Brett Nicholson (appointed incumbent, Board Treasurer) and Tony Reichenberger (attorney with public finance and AI background)
- Nicholson is endorsed by the Minnesota Parents Alliance and Lakeville Mayor Luke Hellier; Reichenberger is endorsed by the teachers' union (EML-LEAF)
- The election also includes a Capital Projects Technology Levy renewal — about $4 million annually with no new tax increase
- The elected candidate takes office January 2026 and serves through January 2027
🗳️ UPDATE — November 5, 2025: Tony Reichenberger won this election with 52.51% of the vote (4,914 votes) to Brett Nicholson's 47.05% (4,403 votes). Voters also approved the Capital Projects Technology Levy renewal by over 71%. Reichenberger takes office in January 2026 and will serve through January 2027. Full election results from Hometownsource →
If you've been following Lakeville school district news at all this fall, you already know this one's been brewing. One school board seat, two candidates with very different backgrounds, and a community trying to figure out who should be steering the ship during one of the fastest periods of growth in the district's history.
Here's everything you need to know.
Why Is There a Special Election?
Quick backstory. Former board member Bree Schindele resigned in August 2024. The board appointed Brett Nicholson to fill the vacancy in November 2024 — he'd received the fourth-most votes in the 2024 general election, so he was the logical pick.
But that appointment was temporary. State law requires a special election to fill the seat for the remainder of the original term. That's what this is.
The winner takes office January 2026 and serves through January 2027. Then the seat is up for election again.
Who's Running?
Two candidates. Both Lakeville parents. Very different resumes.
Brett Nicholson
Current Position: Appointed School Board Member & Board Treasurer (since November 2024)
Brett has served on the board for eight months and was elected Board Treasurer by his fellow members. He's a 12-year Lakeville resident, married to Marcia — a kindergarten teacher in Burnsville since 2010 — and they have two young kids in Lakeville schools.
Professionally, Brett runs a business process improvement consulting firm with over 20 years of experience in operational efficiency and change management. He holds a degree from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management and has worked across six countries on three continents.
Outside of work, he's been a youth sports coach, a 24-year volunteer with Special Olympics Minnesota, and a classroom volunteer at his kids' school.
What he's running on:
Academic Achievement — Brett pushed for a district target of 90% MCA proficiency by 2030 and supported hiring an Executive Director of Teaching & Learning and a PreK-12 Director of Teaching & Learning. He wants to protect arts education and has backed the levy renewal to keep elementary art and fifth-grade band.
Budget Transparency — As Treasurer, he focuses on keeping the fund balance strong and budget conversations public. He supports the Capital Projects Levy Renewal for classroom tech and security without increasing tax scope, and wants an Executive Dashboard to track academic progress.
Supporting Teachers — Brett's done listening sessions with principals, teachers, and administrators across District 194. With a spouse in the classroom, he says he has a unique window into what teachers actually deal with day-to-day.
Safe Schools — Continued funding for security infrastructure and technology upgrades.
Endorsements: Lakeville Mayor Luke Hellier, Lakeville Senate District 57 Republican Party, Scott County Republican Party, Minnesota Parents Alliance
Campaign Website: Vote Brett Nicholson
Tony Reichenberger
Tony has lived in Lakeville for 11 years with his wife Amy and their 12-year-old son who attends McGuire Middle School. The family chose Lakeville specifically for the schools. They also hosted a foreign exchange student from Brazil last year.
Professionally, Tony brings a combination of legal, financial, and technology experience. He previously worked for a public financing company that helped fund Minnesota cities and schools — so he knows how school budgets actually work from the inside. He's also an attorney. Currently, he works for an AI company, which he says positions him to understand what skills students will need as the job market shifts.
What he's running on:
Fixing Board Dysfunction — Tony doesn't mince words here. He calls the school board's reputation "antagonistic, dysfunctional and inefficient" and says he wants to show students and the community how public service should work.
Student Achievement — He believes education should be about preparing kids to succeed in college and the workforce. Focus on learning, innovation, and building confidence.
Technology (With Guardrails) — Tony advocates for making sure students understand the fundamentals before leaning on technology. He warns against over-reliance, saying it "only trains our children to push buttons, not learn."
Fiscal Responsibility — His public finance background is the differentiator here. He knows how school bonds work, how districts get funded, and where the money goes.
Improving Teacher Relations — This is a big one. Tony says the board's treatment of teachers has been "unsatisfactory in respect, appreciation and standards." He points out that Lakeville teacher salaries are notably below Farmington, Northfield, and Prior Lake, and substantially below Burnsville and Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan. His argument: the district is bleeding quality educators to neighboring cities. "Investing in teachers invests in the community."
Managing Growth — With Lakeville being named one of America's hottest neighborhoods for 2025, Tony emphasizes long-term planning for new schools, personnel, and budgeting.
Parent-Student-Teacher Collaboration — He wants more community input on significant district decisions. "When everyone is welcomed to participate fully, we all benefit."
Endorsements: EML-LEAF (Education Minnesota Lakeville – Lakeville Education Association Federation)
Campaign Website: Tony Reichenberger
The Bottom Line
This is a close race between two candidates who genuinely see the district's challenges differently. Nicholson brings board experience, a data-driven approach, and backing from local Republican organizations. Reichenberger brings legal and financial chops, a teacher union endorsement, and a direct willingness to call out what he sees as a broken board culture.
Either way, this election — along with the Capital Projects Technology Levy renewal — will shape how Lakeville schools handle growth, teacher retention, and student outcomes over the next two years.
Want to stay in the loop on Lakeville school district decisions and future elections? Subscribe to South Metro Scoop — we cover this stuff so you don't have to dig through board meeting agendas yourself.
FAQ
Wait, who actually won this election?
Tony Reichenberger won with 52.51% of the vote (4,914 votes) to Brett Nicholson's 47.05% (4,403 votes). Hometownsource has the full breakdown. He takes office January 2026.
Did the Capital Projects Levy pass?
Yes — it passed with over 71% approval. The renewal continues generating about $4 million annually for classroom technology, cybersecurity, and STEM programs with no new tax increase.
Why was there a special election in the first place?
Former board member Bree Schindele resigned in August 2024. Nicholson was appointed to fill the vacancy, but state law required a special election for the remainder of the term.
What are the biggest differences between the two candidates?
Nicholson focused on measurable academic goals (90% MCA proficiency by 2030) and transparent budgeting from his time as Treasurer. Reichenberger focused on teacher pay, board dysfunction, and long-term growth planning using his legal and public finance background. They also had distinctly different endorsement profiles — Republican Party organizations backed Nicholson while the teachers' union backed Reichenberger.
When does the winner's term end?
January 2027. Reichenberger has already said he plans to run again when his one-year term expires.
