Area school districts consider ballot questions

The renewal of the Windom School District’s current operating levy was approved Tuesday, but an additional technology levy was voted down.

District Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt reported that unnofficial results showed the first question on the ballot, calling for a renewal of the district’s operating levy, passed 474-286. The second question on the ballot, asking for approval of a capital technology levy to assist in funding the district’s technology needs, failed 400-359.

Meanwhile, in the Red Rock Central School District, voters were asked to authorize the issuance of general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $41 million to provide funds for a new preK-12 school facility in Lamberton. Voters approved the new building bond referendum by an unofficial count of 786-582.

Voters in the Hills-Beaver Creek school district approved the renewal of the district’s existing referendum by a margin of 210-50. A second ballot question approving an inflationary increase in the referendum revenue was also approved, 180-79.

Among the contested races in northwest Iowa on Tuesday, Bobby Gruis and Carola Oehmsen Vivian were elected to the George City Council, and Shannon Lloyds and Diane Peters were elected to the city council in Little Rock. Roland Vander Lee topped Richard Rietsma to capture a vacant spot on the Rock Rapids City Council.

In terms of yes-or-no public measure questions, voters in the Central Lyon School District passed a physical plant and equipment levy as well as a revenue purpose statements. Those statements were also approved in the Sheldon and Sibley-Ocheyedan school districts.