On April 5, voters did not approve the Rosendale-Brandon School District’s $29.77 million referendum. The “unofficial results” for the question were 959 No to 773 Yes. A passed referendum would have included closing Rosendale Primary, construction of additions and renovations at Laconia High School to accommodate middle and high school students, including renovations to career, technical and agricultural education areas; renovations to Brandon Elementary School and the current Rosendale Intermediate School; district-wide safety, security, building infrastructure, capital maintenance and site improvements; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment. Superintendent Wayne Weber said he was disappointed that the referendum had not been approved and thanked those who voted to support the proposed plan. “We felt as though we provided enough information for people to consider this an investment in our communities’ futures. We remain confident
that we can provide an educational experience that supports our mission to assure that all students acquire the skills, knowledge, and character necessary to become responsible, adaptive, and engaged citizens. However, our facility needs still exist, and we will have to go back to the drawing board to set a new vision for how things will look in the future. We will again be seeking community and staff input from the onset of the process.” Weber said the next step for the District would be to work with the School Board to analyze the election results and talk with community members and staff about how we can best serve our students and staff moving forward.
