Chardon Rejects Bid for New School
Issue 21 fails 4,548 to 3,514
By a considerable margin, Chardon Schools voters rejected Issue 21 Nov. 5, a bid by the district to build a new grade six-to-12 building with a 37-year, $76 million bond issue.
The issue failed by a count of 4,548 votes against the measure to 3,514 votes in favor of it, according to the final unofficial results of the Geauga County Board of Elections.
The district’s Facilities Advisory Committee, which created the plan for new buildings over the past two-and-a-half years, will meet again Nov. 7 to determine a way forward.
Superintendent Michael Hanlon said the committee may present a new plan if it determines modifications are necessary before recommending a new bond issue to the board. However, no decision has been made to place another bond issue on the ballot.
Chardon Schools Board of Education President Madelon Horvath weighed in on the results.
“It is important to understand that our facilities issues have not gone away as a result of the failure of Issue 21,” Horvath said. “We are still in a position of needing to identify significant financial resources to address our aging school facilities.”
She added the need for new facilities persists.
“Our facilities are failing our children,” Hanlon said. “We have to come together as a community for their sake and the sake of our long-term viability.”
Gabrielle Boose, co-chair of Citizens for Chardon Schools, said the group is committed to working in the best interests of Chardon students and will continue to do what they can to support the district.
“The challenges in the facilities remain and they need to be addressed,” Boose said.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Hanlon said volunteers worked tirelessly to communicate the district’s message that the bond issue was critical to providing students and the community the school facilities it feels are necessary for the future.
“We are thankful to all the volunteers that made phone calls, walked door-to-door and organized activities to help spread the message about the importance of Issue 21,” Hanlon said. “On behalf of our board of education, I wish to extend appreciation to the Citizens for Chardon Schools and our supporters for their continued commitment to our school district. Their efforts over the past few months were considerable in helping our community understand the conditions in which our staff teach and our students learn.”
