Iowa City school bond passes with 65 percent of vote

A record number of voices across the community weighed in Tuesday, saying "yes" to the Iowa City Community School District's bond referendum.

The proposal garnered 65 percent of the vote, or 10,814 "yes" votes, in a school election that drew the highest turnout in the history of Iowa City school elections, or roughly 23 percent of registered voters, according to unofficial results from the Johnson County Auditor's Office. The count of "no votes" totaled 5,812.

Voters also elected four new candidates to the school board.

Iowa City Community School District officials have said the bond measure was the largest of its kind in Iowa history.

The measure will fund projects across the district for the next several years, including a new, roughly $19 million elementary school in North Liberty, outdoor athletics facilities at Liberty High costing roughly $12.5 million, and renovations at all of the district's secondary schools and many of its elementary schools.

The district timed the referendum alongside a planned property tax reduction. The bond will add roughly 98 cents to the district's current tax rate of $13.99 for $1,000 of taxable property value, district officials have said.

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Superintendent Steve Murley said he was thrilled to see high voter turnout and excited about the opportunities the measure's passage creates for students. He said a goal of the facilities master planning process leading up to the referendum was to "try to get all of our communities to work together."

Students from Coralville, Iowa City, Hills, North Liberty and University Heights attend Iowa City schools.

“I think there was a common sentiment that we’re investing in the future of Johnson County,” Murley said.

Leading up to the election, ballot issue committees campaigned for and against the referendum.

One group, Vote No Sept. 12, argued against its passage, urging voters to let the measure fail so the school district and community could create smaller bond proposals.

One Community, One Bond supported the referendum and raised nearly $100,000 to promote its campaign. The committee promoted passing the bond to bring air-conditioning to schools across the district, add building capacity to match growing enrollment and provide equitable school buildings.

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Daniel Wasta, One Community's campaign coordinator, said he thinks the committee's positive attitude played a role in the bond referendum's success.

He said the community is tasked now with holding "the board's feet to the fire" — and holding Murley accountable — for successfully completing projects in the district's 10-year facilities plan.

"We have a responsibility now to make sure that these projects are completed, because, along with having their voices heard, voters want to trust what they vote for," he said.

Board member Phil Hemingway voted against pursuing the full $191.5 million bond referendum in a school board vote in January.

Hemingway applauded the high turnout Tuesday night. He said it will be his job to make sure the district keeps its promises on facilities projects. Hemingway said he would encourage those who voted "no" to be watchdogs, as well.

"As I’ve said all along, the community will decide, and the community has decided," he said.

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Board Vice President Paul Roesler said he hopes the bond passage will send a message to other school districts about the possibilities when it comes to their own proposals.

“It’s a commitment to our public schools — to the fact that we have to step up and fund them," he said.

Roesler said the passage also will allow the board to "really dive in" to other topics, aside from facilities.

Voters Janet Norris and Mike Sojka both cast ballots at the North Liberty Community Recreation Center on Tuesday.

Sojka, whose children attend Penn Elementary, said he voted because he is concerned about the future of the growing school district. He said the potential benefits to the community and students weighed on his mind, and he wants students to have access to equitable facilities and opportunities.

Norris, whose children attend North Central Junior High and Liberty High, declined to comment on how she voted, but said she considered which projects it would fund and how it balanced the needs of students across the community.

"I was born and raised here, so it's important just to get out and be involved in the community and the school district," she said.

Pat Coleman, who voted at Mann Elementary, said she recently moved back to Iowa City after living elsewhere for 30 years, and the school election provided an opportunity to re-engage in local politics.

"Certainly, the bond issue is a huge thing. I think it's important that we pass it and that people move ahead with making our schools as good as they can be," she said.

Reach Holly Hines at hhines2@press-citizen.com or at 319-887-5414 and follow her on Twitter: @HollyJHines.