Ames Community School District Special Election for $55 million bond to renovate two elementarty schools and build three new ones.
By Lauris Olson
AmesNewsOnline
(APRIL 3, 2012 - 9 p.m.) The bond has passed. "Yes" votes were 2,987 and "No" were 1,312 votes. The bond needed 60 percent approval to pass. It passed with 69.48 percent. Turn out was 11.5 percent.
(April 3, 2012 – 12:45 p.m. UPDATE) Voters in the Ames School District’s bond referendum election today need to make certain they know what ward and precinct they were assigned to when the districts were restructured after the 2010 Census. They also need to remember there are only four voting sites for the special election.
Otherwise, they may find themselves at the wrong polling place.
Lucy Martin, the Story County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, says she has gotten three calls so far today about confusion over where people should vote.
“People who were registered before should have gotten a card back in February telling them what their new ward and precinct are,” said Martin. “If they have moved or were inactive, they probably didn’t get a card and so they may not know their precinct – even Ward- has changed since the previous bond referendum in September.”
The four polling places are
- Ames Ward 1, Grant Township and Milford Township in the Ames School District -Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue
- Ames Ward 2 - Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1517 Northwestern Avenue
- Ames Ward 3, and Washington Township in the Ames School District - Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way,
- Ames Ward 4 and Franklin Township in the Ames School District - Memorial Lutheran Church, 2228 Lincoln Way
Martin said there are precinct maps with voting locations at every polling place. People who still are uncertain about where to vote after checking the map should call her office at 382-7210.
The county website does NOT contain the information some voters will need, said Martin.
“We are switching to a new website and not everything is functional yet.”
Initial post
(April 3, 2012 - Noon) Turnout has been light during the first four hours polls have been open in the Ames Communty School District Special Bond Election.
The Story County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections' Office said that 905 out of the 37,528 registered voters in the disrict have cast ballots, The 905 represent 2.41 percent of the district's voting electorate.
Over 16 percent of the school district voters turned out for the September 2011 election, which included an unsuccessful bond referendum for the rehabilitation and building of six elementary schools.
The next voter totals will be reported as of 3 p.m.
Let's go!!!!!!!
Let the building begin! This is so positive for the community.
Will be good to see Roosevelt
Will be good to see Roosevelt open again, thanks to all the voters who voted yes!
???
?? Not sure if I read that correctly. This bond will not issue funds to renovate Roosevelt.
Ignore it
The Roosevelt comment was a troll.
yes, it's a troll
This comment does nothing for the Roosevelt area residents. Shame on you!
Sorry, but..........
Roosevelt is done for a community school unless someone buys it.
joke?
Is this comment a joke?
I'd have been happy to pay a
I'd have been happy to pay a lot more for a plan that would equally benefit ALL the children of Ames, and not pretty much just the children of the wealthiest families.
Oh well, 70% of those who voted were either to busy to educate themselves on this plan, or were happy as long as THEY were the ones that benefited the most, and who cares about the rest of the kids, right?
Their rallying cry should have been, "Do it for MY kids."
Get over yourself
You make it sound as if your kids will not receive an education. They will love the new schools, if you let them.
Nothing like a little class warfare...
Seems to me that the school with the highest percentage of kids who get free or reduced lunch, you know...the poor kids, are GETTING A WHOLE NEW BUILDING.
For your information:
My kids will not benefit from the new schools, but I voted yes for all kids and the community because someone at some point did the same for me. I will always support community projects and schools because it is the right thing to do. All schools will get improvements, or will be built new, so, all kids will benefit.
What?
The new schools and renovations will benefit all kids. I am not wealthy, and Meeker will become a new school. That's my area, so not sure what you are talking about. Where are the wealthy? Not around Meeker.
Preventing progress
It is fair to be disappointed if you were on the side against the Bond Issue. It is fair to be pleased if you were on the side in favor of the Bond Issue.
It is not fair to label those voting "no" as individuals who don't care about kids and our schools. It is not fair to label those voting "no" as poor losers or part of some pro-Roosevelt conspiracy. It is equally unfair to label those voting "yes" as individuals wrapped up in various conflicts of interest, in it for financial gain, and people who are "anti- student, small classes, and neighborhood schools." It is unfair to label those voting "yes" as a group of poor "winners" and part of some "anti-Roosevelt conspiracy.
The vote is over. If you were on the side that did not prevail, move on -- there is nothing to do to reverse the vote. If you were on the side that prevailed, move on -- there is nothing for you to gain to demonize the other side. They will pay for these schools just like you do. They are your friends and neighbors too.
We should all be ashamed of the paltry voter turnout.
Agree 98%
Love your comments, except for the last statement.
I feel no shame over voter turnout, 100% of eligible voters in my household voted. Shame is exclusively for those who did not vote.
How the heck
I was reading this story on glurb and I clicked something...and ended up here. OH well. Hi.
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