By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Niles voters have again rejected bond proposals aimed at improving school facilities and addressing safety issues.
The bonds were defeated by an approximate two to one margin. Bond proposal supporters waiting for results at the YMCA Tuesday evening were noticeably disappointed.
By 9 p.m. it became obvious that voters had once again decided against any millage for the school. Yes votes at 1,338 were drummed out by the no votes, which came in at 2,386 for Proposal one. Proposal two, which was dependent on the passage of the first proposal to be valid, was also defeated
"I'm really surprised, disappointed and frustrated. I thought we had got the no voters input right," Douglas Law, Niles Community Schools Superintendent said.
Following the last bond defeat, a survey had been done of all those who voted. It sought to find out what voters in Niles would support.
"You don't want people to have to vote on a bond just after gas goes over $3 a gallon. I'm disappointed. I truly thought that we were responding to what people said they wanted," Judy Truesdell said.
Truesdell along with Gloria Cooper and Law spent the last several months developing a presentation that would answer the questions regarding the need for the bond and the improvements it would bring.
"I ended every talk with a statement about how I hoped we don't end up killing a child," said Cooper.
Her comment now looms large in the mind of those worried about the safety of children being dropped off and picked up at school. Incumbent Dana Daniels, who kept his seat on the school board with 1,941 votes, was obviously concerned.
"You have to see Ring Lardner as parents drop off their kids in the mornings. I just hope no kids get seriously hurt. That's my fear. That's what a lot of this was all about," he said.
As for the future, Law said he would advise the board to take a couple of months to digest the defeat. There are many pressing issues to be addressed in the meantime.
"We need to change focus. We've worked hard on this bond for two and a half years. We need to refocus. We have big budget challenges to meet with the inevitable cutbacks by the State. Student achievement is still our number one priority, Law said.
Cass commissioner Johnie Rodebush stood and apologized to Truesdell and Cooper. He said they had presented the millage clearly and responsibly.
"And Doug, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work on behalf of our schools," Rodebush said.
Many present at the gathering echoed Rodebush's praise for the three who spearheaded the campaign for the millage. All were stunned by the magnitude of the defeat.
"At some level I can actually understand it. With the state of the economy, financially things are very unsettling for all of us. We are gaining on it though. Last time the proposal was beat by a three to one margin. This time it is two for one, so there is reason for hope. Something has to be done," Truesdell said.
We're all pretty shocked. Throughout the day, I really thought we had a chance. My worst fear was that we would lose by only a few votes," Law said.
Newcomer Mike Waldron with 1,862 votes won the second place open on the school board. Waldron had been an extremely vocal opponent of the bond proposals. He beat out short-term board incumbent Rick McKeel, who received 1,789 votes.
There has not been a school bond approved for Niles Schools since 1990.