Pentwater school bond proposal fails by 5 votes

UPDATE: No change in results following vote recount, according to Oceana County Clerk Amy Anderson.

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

PENTWATER — Voters rejected a bond proposal for Pentwater Public Schools by a slim margin of five votes Tuesday, May 7.

The $7.59 million proposal, which was a “bare bones” project, focused on upgrading security at the school. It is the third proposal rejected by voters in the last four years. Voters turned down two previous proposals in 2021‎ and 2022.

The 2024 bond would have funded a new front school entrance for added security; implementation of a new heating system; construction of a new roof; technology upgrades; and the addition of new flooring and furniture.

The Oceana County Clerk’s office had not posted the results as of Wednesday morning, May 8. However, Pentwater Public Schools Superintendent Scott Karaptian confirmed the five-vote loss. “It’s unofficial,” he said, adding that plans are in the works to petition for a recount. He did not have the final votes as of Wednesday morning.

“I just got word at about 11 o’clock last night that it had lost by five.” He said Oceana County Clerk Amy Anderson contacted him.

There are approximately 2,200 registered voters in the precinct, he said. “It’s really a difference of three votes.”

“The one thought is nothing is going to change, but there is also the hope that something was miscounted, and we would get the three votes we need, and that would be pretty glorious.”

If the vote tally stands, the district would need to assess its next move of whether to pursue another bond proposal. That will be up to the school board under the leadership of Karaptian’s successor, Craig Barter, who is taking over as superintendent July 1 when Karaptian retires.

Although the results are extremely disappointing, the school leader saw a bright side. “We had nearly 200 or more voters back in the positive column that we didn’t have before. That tells us we were heading in the right direction.”

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