Back to the drawing board for Pentwater schools as bond proposals fail.

Back to the drawing board for Pentwater schools as bond proposals fail.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

PENTWATER — After voters defeated a $24 million bond proposal a year ago, school officials offered a scaled-back version in the form of two proposals for ballot casters to consider Tuesday, Nov. 8. Both proposals failed.

Proposal 1 included renovating the existing K-12 school building and reconstructing the running track for $10,725,000, and Proposal 2 was for constructing a new gym and multipurpose facility for $6,350,000. 

Proposal I was voted down 875-691, and Proposal II failed by a 994-573 margin, according to unofficial results.

The 2021 proposal was turned down by an 816-403 margin. 

“It is a bit disheartening to see that our bond again was not fully supported by several members of the Weare (Township), Pentwater Village and (Pentwater) Township community members,” said Superintendent/Principal Dr. Scott Karaptian Wednesday. “We thought we heard our community members after the first election, stating that they would be willing to support the renovation and upkeep of the existing building. So that was one of the options we gave them to support, but it still was not supported. However with this being said, we did see an increase in support from 33 percent to 43 percent on this proposal from the last one. So the next time around, we need to convince just over a 100 voters who did not support it this time to support our schools on the next proposal, which is yet to be determined.

“I am so appreciative and want to thank all of those who did support Pentwater Public Schools with their yes votes and ask that they continue to support our school and encourage others to do the same. It is so important that we continue to cultivate and create a strong relationship between schools and community, which is so vital to the prosperity and life of not just the Pentwater community, but to any community.

“As for next steps, we will be talking to our school board, staff and community to see how we should proceed from here,” Karaptian. “I am very proud of our students, staff and community, and I am extremely proud to be a Falcon.”

Voters in the Hart Public Schools district voted down an operating millage proposal Tuesday 1,646–1,501.

In the Walkerville Public Schools district, voters approved a $2,560,000 bond proposal 215-168. The bond money will be used for renovating the school building; adding a secure entrance; and constructing a school bus corral canopy.

Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454.

This story is copyrighted © 2022, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.

As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.