Voters reject school bond issue
By Shelia Tomkins
Voters in the Clayton Ridge Community School District, by a 4-1 margin, turned down a $10,000,000 proposed plan for school facility improvements.
Unofficial results from the Tuesday, April 7, referendum showed 892 against the measure and 224 in favor. Sixty-percent approval was needed for passage. Approximately one-third of the district's 3,394 active registered voters went to the polls.
The proposed facility improvement plan revolved around the future of the 1903 building located in Guttenberg. The building connects the gymnasium, elementary building, and high school building at the center of the campus.
The failed proposal would have allowed the district to issue $10 million in general obligation bonds to replace the 1903 building, construct a new gym, and make repairs and other improvements.
The question on the ballot was the result of study and input from the school board, administration, district residents and design professionals.
Following the defeat of the measure, Clayton Ridge Superintendent Allan Nelson issued the following statement: "The Clayton Ridge Board asked the public if they would support a particular school facility improvement plan. The plan focused on serious infrastructure needs and addressed opportunities to improve the school facilities located in Guttenberg. Obviously, the plan presented to the public did not have the support of a large majority of voters. In my opinion, the best thing we can do is learn from the results and move forward with alternatives. I am confident the most serious issues will be resolved by the community in the future. However, the school board may need some time to 'digest' the results of the April 7 bond referendum before taking further action."
The official canvass of votes was scheduled for Monday, April 13.