The Van Buren Community School District’s bond measure failed to pass Tuesday, November 3rd, falling short of the 60% supermajority required by Iowa law for school bond approval.
Unofficial results show the measure received 993 yes votes to 1,596 no votes — approximately 38% in favor — leaving it below the threshold needed to pass.
The measure asked voters to approve a $10.1 million addition to the Keosauqua campus that would have created a dedicated fifth through eighth grade middle school for the district. The project would have been funded by bonding against the district’s SAVE account — the statewide sales tax fund dedicated to school infrastructure — and would not have increased property taxes for Van Buren County residents.
The proposal came after the defeat of a GEO bond in fall 2024. Following that vote, the district held town hall meetings and gathered community feedback before developing the revised plan, which also would have included restructuring an existing loan from the Activity Center project, bringing the total loan amount to $13.8 million.
Superintendent Jeremy Hissem thanked voters for participating in the election.
“We would like to thank everyone for getting out to the polls and exercising your right to vote,” Hissem said. “The voter turnout was strong and the Board and Administrative team will take some time to reflect on the results and the feedback we have received over the last several years.”
All results are unofficial.
