Area school districts bring bond referndums, operating levies before voters Tuesday

Area school districts brought bond referendums and operating levies before voters during Election Day Tuesday, including Grand Meadow, who was asking voters to approve two bonding requests for building improvements totaling $4.9 million, as the first question sought taxpayer support for updates to the current heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, along with the exterior resurfacing of the school’s unique dome structures.  If passed, a second question would fund a building addition for career tech education, and it would also allow for the remodeling of the district’s existing early learning space.  Question 1 was approved by a vote of 279, or 69% yes to 125, or 30.94% no, while the second question was rejected on a vote of 238, or 59.06% no to 165, or 40.94% yes.

A special election was held in the LeRoy/Ostrander School District Tuesday to fill two vacant seats on the district’s School Board, and with a total of 84 votes cast, Angie Olson claimed one seat with 40 votes, or 95.2%, while Amanda O’Byrne claimed the other with 37 votes, or 88.1%.  There were seven write-in votes cast in that race Tuesday.

Voters in the Alden/Conger School District went to the polls Tuesday to determine whether to approve a $1,194 increase to the district’s operating levy for the next 10 years, which would equate to an estimated new $557,000 of annual revenue.  According to results from the Minnesota Secretary of State’s webpage, 463 people in Freeborn County voted in the election Tuesday with 276 people, or 59.61%, voting in favor of the levy increase, while 187 people, or 40.39% voting against.

Stewartville Public Schools asked voters to support a funding request of more than $62.8 million for several proposed improvements around the district, including construction of a new K-2 building, renovations at Bonner Elementary; separate secure entrances for the middle school and high school, which operate in conjoined buildings; the addition of a new high school classroom; the renovation of the district’s media center, and the renovation of middle school science and STEM classrooms.  Both ballot questions were rejected by the district’s voters Tuesday, with Question 1 defeated by a vote of 1,685 no to 599 yes, and Question 2 was voted down by a total of 1,583 no to 482 yes.