Decorah School District voters approve bond referendum and PPEL renewal

Posted: Mon, Sep 13, 2010 6:34 PM

Voters in the Decorah School District are divided no more.

On Tuesday they gave their approval by wide margins to two measures--one that will allow the school district to borrow up to $10,405,000 by issuing bonds and another that will extend the current Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) for an additional 10 years, raising another $4.4 million.

The school district would use the money for repairs and renovations at Decorah High School and John Cline elementary School.

Decorah School Superintendent Mike Haluska said, "I had a really strong feeling that it would pass. Needless to say I am very, very happy. Hats off to the citizens of the Decorah Community School District who took some huge steps to assure better education for the students for years to come."

Haluska also wanted to acknowledge Justin Gullekson and Michelle Whitehill, co-chairs of the 2FROMYOU group that promoted the proposals; and Jeff Olinger and Craig Rabe, co-chairs of the Shareholders Group, who saw the need for the facility improvements, brought the issue forward via petition, and increased public awareness. Haluska said that without these individuals and groups, the successful vote would not have been possible.

School Board President Mona Nelson said, "I've always known Decorah as a community supports quality education and part of that is maintaining quality buildings." She called the 69 percent approval of the bond issue "very good news."

2FromYou co-chair Justin Gullekson thanked everyone who voted in favor of the two questions and said the approval will allow the Decorah School district to look to the future.