By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
It will be back to the drawing board for the Clare Board of Education after Clare School District voters said a resounding NO to the reduced bond proposal for building renovations and a new high school.
The total votes, including those from Isabella County residents in the Clare district was only 740 yes votes and 1,282 no votes in the election Tuesday.
This was a second try for a bond issue to upgrade Clare Schools and provide a better, safer Middle School in the current High School building.
The first election, for a $66.52 million bond, turned down by voters last May, was redesigned and reduced to $49.85 million, but voters who went to the polls Tuesday still said “no.”
The School millage would have increased by four mills to 6.10 mills if the measure had passed.
In July, Superintendent Jim Walter, explaining a second try, said, “With the help of a new architectural firm, we now have a more straightforward design (two story academic wing) connecting all three main buildings and have reduced the square footage by nearly 30 percent.”
The bond, if it had been approved, would have financed:
a new high school including a gymnasium, kitchen/cafeteria, academic classrooms, and industrial arts spaces.
remodeling portions of the current high school to create a 5th grade “pod” of classrooms and create a secure vestibule/entry.
remodeling the existing middle school gymnasium into an auditorium.
remodeling the west wing of the middle school to provide space for preschool programming and class size initiatives.
decommissioning and removal of the remainder of the current middle school.
construction of parking and drop off loops to alleviate traffic concerns.”
When asked, “What’s next?” staff at the Superintendent’s office said, “That’s up to the board and will be discussed at the next Board of Education meeting (November 20).
Superintendent Jim Walter said Wednesday, “Certainly we’re disappointed in the results. A lot of hard work, preparation, and resolve went into reducing the original project by nearly 25% and still meeting needs. But nothing about Clare changed overnight – it’s still a great place for kids and families. The Board will gather in a couple of weeks, analyze and discuss what they’ve learned from voters, and begin to form new plans. The needs haven’t changed. Community is hard work. The Board gets that and will pull out all the stops for kids and our community.”
On the western side of Midland County, Coleman’s bond proposal was also turned down by voters 748 yes to 7837 no. The loss, by just 89 votes, would have raised $15.36 million with a 2.2 mill tax increase over 2022. The money would have funded improvements to the nearly 50-year-old junior and senior high school building.
In neighboring Gladwin County, the renewal of Beaverton Schools’ operating millage was given a “thumbs up” by voters 1,339 to 771. The 18-mill non-homestead tax was also approved 29-15 by Clare County voters in that school district.
The Gladwin County public safety millage also passed 3,276 to 2,733.
The 1.5 mill measure will run from 2023 through 2028, starting with the December 2023 tax collection. It is expected to raise an estimated $1,794,253 in the first calendar year. The funds are for the sheriff’s office
“We will be frugal stewards of the funds and keep the community the best in the state,” said Gladwin County Sheriff Mike Shea in an interview with a neighboring publication.
This was another second try for the proposal. The millage request failed by 74 votes in the August 8 election, 2,139 votes to 2,065. Since the August vote, deputies have no longer been responding to noise complaints, office hours have been limited, and the marine patrol and DARE program were both eliminated.