Third time’s a charm: Polson voters approve two bond issues

Polson’s two bond issues passed by comfortable margins during last Tuesday’s election.

Voters approved the elementary bond for $23,315,000 by 388 votes (1,935 to 1,547); and said yes to the high school levy of $16,645,000 by a margin of 298 votes (2094 to 1796). This marks the third effort in recent years to get bond issues across the finish line for Polson schools.

“Tuesday night was exciting for us,” said Trustee Devon Cox, who championed the project as part of the community-led Polson School Improvement Committee. “I know how much work went into not only campaigning and informing voters about the bond, but the work the community did to build a proposal that worked for the school as well as voters.”

Superintendent Mike Cutler was also pleased with the outcome.

“We are feeling very fortunate that the voters chose to join us in making our school safer and more secure as well as giving our high school students more opportunities to prepare for the workforce outside of secondary education,” he said.

Voter turnout was also up compared to 2022, with 112 more votes cast in the high school district (3,910 total) and an additional 77 votes cast in the elementary (3,497).

Cutler attributed the increase in voter support to efforts by the School Improvement Committee, whose members “worked their tails off educating our community about all of the safety and security issues that we have.”

In addition to the committee’s efforts “to bring the total ask for taxpayers down” and promote the projects, Cox attributed success to “our administrators and especially our teachers working so hard to communicate the needs and opportunities in our schools.”

“I think there were great relationships built throughout this process,” he added. “I’m excited to see the School Improvement Committee grow and stay engaged with residents and small businesses to help the community and school continue to show ways that we can all succeed by working together.”

According to Cutler, planning is already underway for renovation projects at all four schools. “We are hopeful to break ground this fall.”

Also on the ballot last Tuesday were school board trustees. Voters selected the following candidates in five races:

Arlee, with two openings, saw the return of incumbent Lisa Koetter with 250 votes, and the addition of newcomer Phaedrus Swab with 194. Incumbent Jason Stockdale received 147.

In Charlo, where six candidates vied for three seats, incumbent Daniel Cahoon tallied 211, Nathan Bauer had 165, and incumbent LaDonna Fryberger received 156. They were trailed by Kristen Marcure Bauer with 140, Dion Carey with 104 and Matt Hout with 92.

In Ronan, where six candidates filed for two seats, newcomer Levi Read took the lead with 534 and incumbent Bob Cornwell received 428 votes. Shirley Azzopardi brought in 231, followed by Amy Coffman with 181, Ted Coffman Jr. with 159, and Ionela Rusnac with 100.

St. Ignatius saw the return of former trustee Stan Delaney with 332 and incumbent Mary Leishman with 319; incumbent Peter Matt received 230.

The opening on the Dayton School Board was secured by Ron Jaden over Collin McCullough, 176 to 123.

Trustees for two rural fire districts were also on the ballot. Sigurd Jensen and Mike Meuli were elected to represent Chief Cliff and Susan Black and Gary Drye took the lead in Arlee.