Levies pass, incumbents win by close margins

Darlene Bricker 1,119 Cindy Erickson 920 Curtis Smeby 732 Edroy "Curt" Curtis 723 $73,000 elementary levy 732 yes 655 no $98,000 high school levy 724 yes 708 no $185,000 building reserve 717 yes 709 no

Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson

Election judges Elva Van Dessel, from left, Marian Seely and Jean Scofield man a table as Deitra Kraske votes in the Havre Public Schools School Board election Tuesday afternoon in the Havre High School gym.

After a tense wait, longer than any other district in the area, the Havre Public Schools trustees and administrative staff let out a cautious sigh of relief as all three of their funding requests, $171,000 in levies and $185,000 in building reserves, passed in Tuesday's elections.

The votes in the high school levy and building reserve counts were so close there might have to be recount, according to Superintendent Andy Carlson.

The law states a vote difference of 1 percent requires a recount. The building reserve passed by 1.1 percent.

"For those of you that made that last-ditch effort and talked to people today, I can't thank you enough, " Carlson said Tuesday.

A similar situation arose in the trustee election, where third-place vote-recipient Curtis Smeby slipped by newcomer Edroy "Curt" Curtis by nine votes, for a 1.2 percent difference.

Curtis was happy for the district and encouraged by the levies passing.

"I think it's a great evening for Havre schools, " Curtis said. "It'll make (the administration's) job easier. Not easy, but easier.

"Personally, I'd better run again. "

The superintendent got together with other administrative staff, including most of the school principals and school board, in the Robins Administration Building shortly after polls closed at 8 p. m.

For the next hour and a half, the staff sat around and chatted while Carlson stared somberly at his BlackBerry reading other districts' results. Occasional status updates from Havre High School would silence the room.

Nothing was written on the big board until the final numbers came in around 9:45 p. m.

Next to the levy counts, the superintendent had written how much the districts would have to cut, with or without the levies.

Since they both passed, the elementary district will only have to cut $113,420.63, instead of $186,420.63. The high school district will need to cut $85,684.62, as opposed to the possible $183,684.62.

"I really appreciate the support this community shows our schools, " Carlson said. "I know these are not easy times. "