Rushford-Peterson board certifies special election results; school building bond fails 444-744

The Rushford-Peterson School Board on Feb. 17 adopted a resolution canvassing the returns of the district’s Feb. 10 special election and declared the proposed school building bond defeated. The clerk’s abstract recorded 1,189 ballots cast on the proposition: 444 votes in favor and 744 opposed.

The board’s resolution states the special election was duly called and held and directs the clerk to certify the results to the county auditors and the Minnesota Commissioner of Education, as required by statute. The abstract and return of votes were attached to the meeting minutes as the official record.

The tally recorded in the abstract shows the proposition “authorizing the issuance of school building bonds for a school acquisition and betterment program (SCHOOL DISTRICT QUESTION 1)” did not receive a majority of votes and is therefore declared to have failed. The total ballots counted for the question were 1,189, with one completely blank ballot recorded and no completely defective ballots listed.

The canvass document includes standard election accounting details, such as the number of ballots delivered and accepted, absentee counts, and precinct delivery records. It also certifies that the copy in the minutes is a true and complete transcript of the original records in the clerk’s custody.

Procedurally, the clerk’s certification of the abstract starts the administrative step of notifying county election officials and the state education commissioner. The board did not propose any immediate additional action tied to the failed bond during the canvass item; next steps for facility planning or revised financing proposals were not specified in the minutes.