(Spirit Lake)– The third time was the charm for a bond issue to build a new seventh through 12th grade school in Lake Park.
Voters Tuesday approved a four million dollar bond issue on a margin of 63.49 percent yes to 36.50 percent no. Vote totals were 607 in favor; 349 against. Seven absentee ballots were still outstanding, but they won’t be enough to have any major impact either way.
60 percent voter approval was needed for passage under Iowa law. Previous attempts received a simple majority, but failed to get the super majority. Most of the opposition was in the Harris area…as it was with this election. The measure was defeated there 157 no to 44 yes. It was overwhelmingly approved in the Lake Park area–498 yes to 166 no. Of the absentee ballots, there were 65 yes votes and 26 no.
The issue was heavily opposed by residents who don’t want the school in Harris closed. Under the proposal, elementary and middle school students currently housed in that building will attend classes in the current high school in Lake Park.
The new 7-12 school is an integral part of a community complex to be built on the south side of Lake Park.
1.1 million dollars in funding was awarded for the community complex part of the project by the Vision Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism Program. The funding was contingent on passage of the bond issue. Dickinson county is contributing 250-thousand dollars to the project. It was also contingent on the issue passing. The city of Lake Park and Lake Park Municipal Utilities are also putting up funding for the project.
Superintendent Tim Christensen has been on the job only two days. He says this represents a very exciting time for the Harris-Lake Park district.
Shirley Gillespie was a supporter of the bond issue and was involved in previous attempts. She says it’s time now for the communities to come together and work for the betterment of the students.
Gillespie feels the Vision Iowa award made the difference in getting the measure passed this time around.
