Poweshiek County vote tally shows landslide win for tax levy

After over a decade and multiple failed attempts, Grinnell-Newburg Community School’s unofficial vote tally for Poweshiek County shows 78 percent of voters voted in favor of building a new elementary school. This follows two unsuccessful bond votes in 2018 and a rejected Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) in 2023. The final results become official once Jasper County votes are tallied.

“On March 17, we will have the official results for both counties approved,” said Missy Eilander, Poweshiek County auditor and commissioner of elections.

According to the unofficial results, in Poweshiek County, 1818 residents voted in favor of the levy and 527 voted against. 

The Scarlet & Black interviewed voters outside Elks Lodge on Tuesday, Mar. 4. All of the individuals interviewed said they voted in favor of the levy.

A long-standing need

For many in the community, the school’s deteriorating condition has been a concern for years.

“I think people don’t even know how bad it is, and this is something we’ve been trying to do for a lot of years,” said Amy Skouson, 52, a school teacher. “I’ve seen families decide not to stay in Grinnell because of the quality — not the quality of the teaching, but the quality of the school buildings. That sends a message.”

“I work for the elementary schools and it would be really good for us to get that,” said Kaylin Corey, 21. “I would hope people will realize that voting here should be good for the overall community.”

Other voters emphasized that renovations were no longer practical for the town’s elementary buildings.

“Buildings have shelf lives, and these buildings were reaching the end of theirs, and so everything you put into them beyond a certain point is simply money wasted,” said local resident Tara Jones, 56.

Community support

Many who supported the levy saw it as an investment in the town’s future.

“The opportunity is great. The land’s been donated, so that expense is not even there. The taxes are minimal and the kids need a new school,” said Brenda Anderson, 62.

“Schools and education are really critical assets to a community, and it’s just the right thing to do. It was just practically a no-brainer for me. I really can’t think of any reasons not to vote for it,” said Simone Sidwell, 64, who voted yes on both the previous PPEL and previous bonds.

Even though some voters had issues with certain aspects of the levy, they said the value of education made them vote in favor of it. 

“There were certain things that I definitely took issue with,” said Janet Belisle, 46. “I definitely have some land use concerns, but I voted in favor of trying to give students the best shot at education that they can have, or at least what I perceived as such.”

Support from Grinnell College students and young voters

Some voters mentioned going through the Grinnell-Newburg education system as being an important factor in their decision to vote yes.

“I know that our school facilities aren’t very good right now, and we need new ones,” said Luke Olson, 18, a senior in high school.

Grinnell College students were also present and motivated to vote for various reasons.

“My mom’s a teacher,” said Peter Versh `25. “I think teachers have a value for growing a community.”

“I think it’s especially important as college students who are living in the context of a broader community to support the town,” said Jane Hoffman `25.