Going into Tuesday’s levy referendum vote, Shakopee School Board members and administrators were “cautiously optimistic” the levy would be renewed.

By late Tuesday evening they were downright thrilled.

“I think it speaks very well of the Shakopee community that they saw fit to continue to support the school district in this fashion even though it is a difficult financial time,” Board Member Reggie Bowerman said.

Shakopee School District voters approved the district’s request to renew its operating levy with more than 70 percent of the vote. Voters approved the measure 3,527 to 1,352.

The vote will renew the levy of $529.75 per pupil for eight years. The operating levy generates about $4.3 million annually for the district.

Read more about the referendum in Thursday's Shakopee Valley News print edition. See the results by precinct in the attached .pdf.