Suppose they gave a public forum and nobody showed up?

It wasn’t that bad Tuesday night at the Fine Arts Center, as about 20 appeared for the Wayland Schools’ effort to learn from citizens why the Aug. 2 bond proposal failed. However, about 40 percent were Wayland school administrators or school board members.

In the wake of a loss, 52% to 48% at the polls earlier this month, school officials have set about the task of listening to voters as to reasons why they might have voted against the $48.5 million proposal. But that vast majority of those who showed up were supporters. Even worse, most of them said they didn’t hear or see much in the way of opposition leading up to the election.

So Tuesday evening they were in search of information, but came away almost empty.

D.J. Bouma asked if there were going to be any more town halls this fall “to find out what turned people off.”

Supt. Tim Reeves and Assistant Supt. for Finance and Operations Patricia Velie replied there will be sessions at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, at Leighton Township Hall and at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, at Dorr Elementary School. Dorr and Leighton voters racked up the largest opposition totals at the polls, suggesting a rural-urban split.

But Bouma noted some Leighton Township voters have significant loyalty to Moline and South Christian schools and to Caledonia, particularly in the Green Lake area. The puzzling aspect of this explanation is that Wayland has a pool and Caledonia does not, which most would believe would be an advantage. However, it should be noted Caledonia recently passed a bond for an aquatic center.

Jeff Hudson, who used to be a member of the Wayland City Council, suggested, “We should try to convince the private schools that a new pool (in Wayland) would benefit them as well.”

One woman insisted, “We need to talk to the local churches and their pastors. They hold a large influence over their congregations.”

It also was pointed out that too many older citizens in the school district do not use the Internet and have limited access to information about the schools.

Reeves said it might be an unpleasant option, but volunteers might consider knocking on doors, a process that often helps political candidates.

Reeves also said there is a preconceived notion that the school district could use funds from the Gun Lake Casino for the project, but the $1.6 million annually would fall far short of the $48 million price tag.

He said he was told that the swim pool and auto shop in 1974 both were considered state of the art when they were built in 1974, but the years since have taken their toll.

Velie acknowledged many citizens didn’t believe her contention that there would be no increase in yearly taxation. She said the district now operates on a bond of 8.4 mills, which would continue for 25 years and 10 months, but would never be increased.

She asserted, “That 8.4 mills continues to take care of us” and she further asserted that neighboring school districts have a higher tax burden. Wayland, it was announced Monday night, was able to avoid having to borrow against anticipated state aid payments, something most districts cannot do, nor could Wayland in days gone by.

The assistant superintendent said one of the tragic results of the bond defeat is that the roof and windows at the middle school are sorely needed, but now nothing will be done.

It also was disappointing that too many citizens didn’t seem to understand that building the new pool would set in motion other infrastructure projects such as a new industrial arts classroom, orchestra room, choir room, band room and then would include improvements and repairs at the middle school and all of the four elementaries. They seemed to think the proposal was only about a new pool.

Bouwma said he’s disturbed that some believe Wayland somehow has been fiscally irresponsible when the data shows the opposite.

Attendees were asked about what kind of proposal they would like to see in the May special election, whether it should be changed or split in two, for a pool and then for other infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, school officials and the school board will go back to the drawing board before they ask Leighton Township voters how they feel next Tuesday.