A day after a Cavalier, N.D., school improvements' vote went down in flames Tuesday, even opponents were saying something needs to be done about facilities.
With only a few absentee ballots left to be counted, "no" voters prevailed by a 3-to-1 margin over those favoring the $11.5 million improvement project on the ballot. The vote was 940 opposed and 308 in favor.
"The vote sends a message that the people probably want more options to look at," said Gordon Johnson, a critic of the measure.
He suggests first seeking a consolidation with a neighboring school district. If that doesn't work out, "then probably a more modest project, one more saleable to the public," he said.
"Most people were not against doing something because we need to do something. The public would have liked different options."
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The project, which would have remodeled half the school and rebuilt the other half, would have assessed 84 mills over 20 years. The annual tax increase would have been $378 for a $100,000 house and about $500 on a quarter-section of average farmland.
Garnett Furstenau, co-chair of the facilities committee that proposed the $11.4 million project to the school board, said he knew approval was an "uphill battle." It required 60 percent approval to pass and it was difficult to gauge the community's appetite for increased taxes since it hadn't faced a similar vote in 30 years.
Still, the one-sided outcome convinced Furstenau that "what we proposed was obviously too large for the voters." Also, despite North Dakota doing well, perhaps some voters were cautious because of the national economy, he said.
"It's a lot of money, serious money for a district of our size," he said. "I'm certainly understanding of that."
Furstenau said he's among committee members who want to revisit the issue. The first move should be to ask neighboring districts about consolidation. Before opting for the improvements project, the committee asked North Border school board members about consolidation. The school's representatives said they had no immediate interest in the idea.
"This time, maybe we'll ask them to put it in writing and detail their thoughts on the idea," Furstenau said.
North Border, a consolidation of Walhalla, Pembina and Neche schools, is to the north. Another option could be Valley-Edinburg to the south.
The Cavalier School Board will meet Thursday to canvass the votes. Chairman Justin Kreig said board members likely will research "why we had such a resounding 'no' and what we need to do to move forward."
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Whatever they find, Kreig said, "I would anticipate that somewhere in the not too distant future, we'll bring something to the voters again."
Reach Bakken at (701) 780-1125; (800) 477-6572, ext. 125; or send email to rbakken@gfherald.com .
