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Volume 30 Issue 8
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Peterson mayoral race cuts close page
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Canton • Chatfield • Fountain • Harmony • Houston • Lanesboro • Mabel • Ostrander • Peterson • Preston • Rushford • Rushford Village • Spring Valley • Whalan • Wykoff
Rushford-Peterson referendum succeeds
Invest in your community “Give to the Max” By K aren R eisner karen@fillmorecountyjournal.com
On November 4, 2014, a mere 89 votes tipped the ballot tally in favor of passing a $38.1 million referendum for the residents of the Rushford-Peterson School District to build a new K-12 facility. Photo submitted by Shannon Ingvalson
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“I am elated with the outcome, and although I knew it would be close, the margin was a bit narrower than I thought it would be,” acknowledges Vote Yes Campaign head Robin Honken. “It has been amazing and exhausting all at the same time. Our intentions have always been to provide information in the most factual way possible, but understanding that we believe the proposal on the table was the best for the kids and the community.” “We all need to reflect on our own actions, continue to support our local businesses, and
OcT. 20 - NOv. 16
The Rushford-Peterson School District #239 will see a new early childhood through grade 12 facility, successfully passing a $38.1 million referendum November 4. Of 2,135 votes cast, just 89 votes determined the decision, leaning 1,112 to 1,023. The debate over the referendum has consumed the Rushford Peterson area in recent months and the narrow win will not likely be the end of the debate. For many, however, the win signals a triumph of several years of intensive work to determine the fate of aging facilities.
Chuck Ehler and school board chairman John Linder. “I wish to thank our district residents for being informed voters and recognizing the importance of this vote. Thanks to the positive outcome, we will be able to address the long-term facility needs of our school district. The vote also ensures the sustainability of our school district and will allow us to improve our learning environment and provide 21st century learning opportunities for our students,” Ehler continued. “You can trust that the board and administration will be working hard to build a new school that will meet the needs of our students and one that we as a community, can be proud of!”
kirsten@fillmorecountyjournal.com
A sizeable amount of time was invested in facility and education analysis, developing a plan for the district. In May of this year, after years of lobbying the state legislature for funding assistance, the state approved a new debt equalization statute for districts affected by natural disaster. With the new formula, districts such as R-P were presented with the opportunity to qualify for up to 55 percent of project funded by state tax dollars. “Thanks to everyone’s advocacy and leadership, we were able to secure the debt equalization aid that played an instrumental role in the passage of our bond referendum,” stated a joint district press release from superintendent
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By K irsten Zoellner
“Give to the Max” Day is November 13. Local community foundations are seeking donations and your support on November 13, “Give to the Max” (GTTM) Day in Minnesota. The first statewide GTTM Day, an online giving event, occurred in 2009. Last year over $17 million was raised for non-profits and charities throughout Minnesota in 24 hours. For the third year the communities of Preston and Spring Valley are challenging each other to raise the most in a 24-hour period in support of their respective communities. And, for the second time Harmony and Rushford are challenging each other. The winner between Preston and Spring Valley and between Harmony and Rushford will receive a prize of 100 early childhood books from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). Each of the runnerups will receive 50 early childhood books. This will be the sixth annual “Give to the Max” (GTTM) Day in Minnesota, a statewide effort to raise money for nonprofit and charitable organizations. All four of these communities will ultimately be winners with another successful fund raising event. Area community foundations have worked hard to get the word out about this fundraiser through some or all of the following: posters, utility bill fliers, letters and e-mails, getting the schools involved, news
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