Durand School District referendums fail, leave District asking, 'Now what?'

After a long period of informational sessions, open houses, facility studies, and surveys, the two referendum questions presented to voters in the School District of Durand were voted down November 4.
Question one, which asked whether general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $17,550,000 should be issued for the public purpose of paying the cost of constructing additions to and renovating Caddie Woodlawn Elementary School and the Middle/High School; demolishing a portion of Arkansaw Elementary School and completing renovations and improvements for a gymnasium, meeting rooms, a concession stand, restrooms and the alternative school; completing related site improvements; and acquiring furnishings, fixtures and equipment, failed 1,341 to 1,579.
Of 16 municipalities, less than half favored question one, with the largest margin in a single municipality, the City of Durand, being 94 votes. Most municipalities in favor of question one were by merely 10 votes.
Nine municipalities voted against question one, with the largest margins being in the Town of Frankfort and the Town of Waterville, voting the question down by 71 and 209 votes, respectively. Many were again only divided by a handful of votes.
The second question presented to voters in the District asked whether general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 should be issued for the public purpose of paying the cost of making improvements to the District's football field and track. Question two was voted down 979-1,926.
No municipalities were in favor of question two, with the Town of Waterville and City of Durand having the largest margins of 186 and 142, respectively.
As a District, Superintendent Greg Doverspike said they were cautiously optimistic that at least the building referendum would pass.
"In a Democracy, the voters get to have their opinion, and we respect what the voters say," he said. "However, the fact remains that we have $12 million of repairs to address in the next 10 years."
Doverspike said the Board of Education, along with the District, will need to regroup and determine the next steps.
"We need to look at what our options are, and might have to look at making cuts to maintain the facilities," he said. "The District can't afford to operate three buildings anymore."
The majority of the needed repairs lies in ADA accessibility, HVAC, and roofing.
"We have a lot of needs that will have to be addressed in the next one to three years, mainly roofing," Doverspike said.
Doverspike said the District appreciates that people got out to vote.
"We appreciate the support of the ad-hoc committee, the people who came to our open houses, watched videos, and asked questions," he said. "We respect the outcome of the vote and will move on to find other options."
Doverspike said a broad discussion will be held with the School Board.
"When the time comes, we'll inform the people involved in whatever decision we make, then make it known," he said. "There are a lot of options on the table in the District that we'll look at in the next couple of months, and discuss at school board meetings."
The first discussion will be held at the next board meeting November 19.
"This will be tough," Doverspike said.