BY MARIA LOCKWOOD
SUPERIOR DAILY TELEGRAM
The third time was the charm for the Maple School District. Preliminary numbers show the district's $33 million building project was approved by a narrow margin -- 1,942 "yes" votes to 1,835 against.
"We're very happy it passed," said School Board President Tim Thom. "We appreciate the public support."
Gail Saari, a member of the School Board, said there were hugs and tears of joy in the district offices this morning after the numbers were tallied.
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"It's emotional," she said.
Nearly twice as many voters went to the polls for the latest referendum than for a similar $32 million bond last June. But during that election, there were no other items on the ballot to draw voters to the polls. Tuesday, 3,777 residents cast ballots.
"That's got to be a high percentage of eligible voters in the district," Thom said.
"I'm glad a larger number of people voted," said School Board Member Jim Streveler, because that gives a good representation of how the community feels.
The project has been a topic of conversation, debate and a concentrated effort by a citizens' group to get voters to the polls.
"I think the citizens committee did a good job getting people out to vote," Streveler said.
"Too many people last time thought, 'Oh, it'll pass,' and they didn't even go out to vote," Saari said.
Thom said the combined work of board members, the citizens committee and district administration led to the high voter turnout. In addition, students and teachers took time to speak at public meetings.
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"It was a team effort," he said.
The $33 million will be used for new classrooms and renovations at Iron River Elementary School and Northwestern Middle School, construction of a mostly new Northwestern High school, a new bus maintenance facility and a sewer line linking Northwestern high, middle and elementary schools to Poplar.
"It's for our kids and future kids," Saari said, but also for the entire community.
With a more accessible high school, she said, her neighbor, who uses a wheelchair, will get the opportunity to see his grandchildren perform.
"It will allow for better education, a better place for people to come," Streveler said.
Upgrades will make the buildings more energy efficient, he said, and additions at the middle school and Iron River will give classes room to grow.
"Those kids can get out of the locker room now" at Iron River, Saari said.
"I'm glad it passed," Streveler said, but "the work's not over."
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"This is where the work really begins," Thom said.
As the board finalizes plans and starts construction for the many projects, the community is urged to be involved. Public input on the interior layouts of the new high school and additions is welcome, board members said.
"I would rather have a lot of community members at board meetings so they can see what's going on," Thom said.
The board moved monthly meetings to the high school library to accommodate larger crowds. They expressed hope that citizens who have been active at recent referendum meetings will carry their interests into the board room.
"The board will stay involved," Streveler said. "Hopefully the community will, too."
