Hamilton bond fails, other school votes pass

HEATH TWP. — A $65.6 million bond proposal for Hamilton Community Schools was voted down during the Tuesday, Aug. 4, election.

The bond was one of several school issues on the ballot in Ottawa and Allegan counties, the majority of which were operating millage renewals that were approved.

The HCS bond, which would have generated funds to build a new middle school, restructure the district’s elementary schools and various other improvements, was voted down with 61.9 percent of voters saying “no.”

Superintendent David Tebo called the vote “saddening” and said the percentage of “no” voters was surprising.

“Obviously that was not the response we were hoping for,” he said. “I would say that the percentage was surprising. But anytime you get feedback like that, that’s good information. We’ll take that and use it.”

Allegan County millages - Infogram

Tebo mentioned recent economic struggles and the ongoing pandemic as potential factors for no voters and several residents said they felt the proposal was insensitive.

“Some people have shared that it was insensitive for us to ask — that was never our intent,” he said. “We made a decision in May, we thought things would be in a different place and they’re not.”

With the bond failing, the district will continue to find “creative ways” to manage issues, including the crowding issues that are present at Hamilton Middle School, Tebo said.

Additionally, the superintendent said it was tough to see a variety of millages for other services pass in townships within the district while the school proposal was handily voted down.

“The disheartening thing as I look at bigger picture results throughout townships, people supported fire, roads, recycling, other things,” Tebo said. “They didn’t come out and support the school’s ask. That’s on me.

“I have to figure out, as a school leader, why it wasn’t supported. I have to look at myself as a leader and ask what I could have done better.”

The next step for HCS, Tebo said, is to get the school year underway. Then the district will start to look at reasons why the bond failed and what needs to be changed.

“At the end of the day, we heard from the community,” he said. “We’ll respond with our chin up and make most of the ‘no’ that we didn’t want to hear.

“We’ve heard the community and know that our teachers have and will continue to work their tails off to get back to school.”

In addition to the bond vote, HCS asked for a renewal of its operating millage for 2021 through 2024. The renewal passed with 54.9 percent of the vote — 2,655 yes to 2,178 no. Tebo said he’s glad the renewal passed, but is concerned with the low level of support.

“The operating millage concerns me more (than the bond),” he said. “There were a lot of ‘no’s in there, those are ‘no’s from people who don’t pay that tax.

“We are in a community that is divided. I have a hard time thinking that doesn't fall on leadership. I have a lot of hard reflection to do.”

FENNVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The FPS operating millage renewal for 2020-22 passed with 66.1 percent of the vote — 1,173 yes to 601 no.

HOLLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The HPS operating millage renewal for 2020-22 passed with 71 percent of the votes — 5,075 yes to 2,073 no.

WEST OTTAWA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Both the operating millage renewal and sinking fund request WOPS passed on Tuesday. The operating millage passed with 68.8 percent of the vote — 7,680 yes to 3,487 no — and the sinking fund passed with 55.3 percent of the vote — 6,157 yes to 4,967 no.

ZEELAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The ZPS operating millage renewal for 2021 was approved with 67 percent of the vote — 4,806 yes to 2,368 no.

ALLEGAN AREA ESA

Each of the three Headlee Amendment restoration proposals for the AAESA passed on Tuesday.

The operating millage proposal passed with 52.2 percent of the vote (8,811 yes to 8,082 no), the special education proposal passed with 54.6 percent of the vote (9,142 yes to 7,600 no) and the technical education proposal passed with 54.2 percent of the vote (9.058 yes to 7,643 no).

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.