Tama County Auditor Karen Rohrs (second from right) works to count ballots on Thursday, Nov. 20, as part of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District Public Measure TY recount in the Tama County Supervisors chambers in Toledo. Also pictured, assistant auditor Maureen Kratoska (far left), petitioner Craig Sash (second from left), elections administrator Jenna Cremeans (far right), and G-R Superintendent Caleb Bonjour (forefront). The last time Tama County conducted a recount of any kind was during a South Tama County PPEL vote, Rohrs told the newspaper. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

REINBECK – Following a recount, the results are in and margins remain the same: Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District’s $17.3 million bond referendum passed on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, by 17 votes.

“Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District has received the completed recount results from the four county auditors’ offices involved in administering our bond election. Their work confirmed that the original results were accurate and that the bond has officially passed,” G-R Superintendent Caleb Bonjour said in a statement following the completion of the recount Monday afternoon.

The recount was initiated on Nov. 13, 2025, by Craig Sash of rural Traer who submitted a petition to the Tama County Auditor’s Office requesting a recount of Public Measure TY. A total of 38 individuals, including Sash, signed the petition. All but Sash hailed from Gladbrook.

The bond referendum – the district’s third try in four years – narrowly passed as part of the Nov. 4, 2025, city-school election, garnering 1,179 votes in support and 757 votes against. School bonds in Iowa require a 60% supermajority to pass. G-R’s public measure made it over the finish line by a mere 17 votes.

In Iowa, a recount of a non-statewide public measure can only be ordered by the board of canvassers if the “difference between the affirmative and negative votes cast on the public measure … is less than either one (1) percent or fifty (50) votes, whichever is lesser,” per Iowa Code. Such language was added to Iowa’s election law this past summer following Gov. Kim Reynold’s signing of House File 928.

Tama County Elections Administrator Jenna Cremeans smiles while running ballots through the county's DS450 scanner and tabulator on Thursday, Nov. 20, in Toledo as part of the G-R bond referendum recount. The machine was purchased by Tama County in 2024 using American Rescue Plan Act funds. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

For G-R’s public measure, 1% of the total votes cast is 19.36, or 20 votes.

Of the four counties that make up the G-R school district boundaries, Marshall County conducted its recount on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. at the Marshall County Auditor’s Office in Marshalltown. Fifteen total ballots were cast upon the public measure in Marshall County, including three in favor and 12 against.

“Recount went well. All [Marshall County] votes accounted for on the Gladbrook Reinbeck CSD Public Measure TY,” Jessica Chizek, deputy of elections, said in an email following the recount.

Tama County – the controlling county for G-R school elections – held its recount on Thursday, Nov. 20, beginning at 2:30 p.m. in the board of supervisors chambers at the Tama County Administrative Building in Toledo. The recount lasted less than an hour due to the incredibly-organized Tama County Auditor’s Office helmed by Auditor Karen Rohrs.

When asked about the cost of a machine recount like the one being conducted for the G-R public measure, Rohrs pointed to her staff – including elections administrator Jenna Cremeans who was running ballots through the county’s high-powered DS450 scanner and tabulator – and replied, “Honestly, it’s just them sitting here.”

Tama County Auditor Karen Rohrs, left, lifts her hands in celebration when the G-R bond referendum recount numbers come out perfectly-aligned with election night results on Thursday, Nov. 20, in Toledo. Also pictured, Tama County Elections Administrator Jenna Cremeans. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

In Tama County, a total of 852 ballots were cast on the G-R bond referendum, including 198 in favor and 654 against. Following the recount – which included searching through the entirety of the Dysart precinct for the one ballot cast upon the measure – the numbers remained unchanged.

Black Hawk County conducted its recount at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, at the auditor’s office in Waterloo. Per petitioner Sash – who was required to attend all four recounts – the process was “very organized, very quick,” taking roughly 15-20 minutes in total.

A total of 59 votes in Black Hawk County were cast upon the public measure, including 51 in support and 8 against. “Everything checked perfectly!” Sash said following the recount.

The final recount took place in Grundy County on Monday, Nov. 25, beginning at noon at the auditor’s office in Grundy Center. A total of 1,010 ballots were cast upon the public measure in Grundy County, including 927 in favor and 83 against. Following a three-hour recount, Sash said there were no changes – “All votes were correct election night.”

As part of his statement to the newspaper, Superintendent Bonjour expressed gratitude to the county officials and their staff who conducted the recounts.

“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the auditors and their staff members for conducting a smooth, transparent, and professional process – even as they navigated conflicting guidance from the Office of the Secretary of State. Their commitment to accuracy and integrity ensured a clear and trustworthy outcome for our communities.”

He continued, “I would also like to thank Craig Sash for the opportunity to work alongside him throughout this process. Regardless of personal views on the bond itself, we were able to approach this work respectfully, with a shared commitment to fairness – and even with moments of smiles and laughter. That gives me hope for what collaboration can look like moving forward.”

“As we turn the page, my focus continues to be on working with anyone who cares about our district, our students, and the importance of local control. Together, we can build the next chapters of Gladbrook-Reinbeck in a way that strengthens our schools and ensures every member of our community feels a sense of belonging and pride.”

In his own comments to the newspaper, Sash said he was more than satisfied with the recount process — even if the results didn’t swing his way.

“While I’m not exactly thrilled with the way the vote turned out, I am quite pleased to say the vote count did not change from the initial reports. There were no questions or irregularities discovered in any precinct. That’s how it’s supposed to work, flawlessly,” Sash said.

Public Measure TY

According to the district, with the bond’s passage, the following will be addressed at the junior high/high school building in Reinbeck:

-Build a secure-entry classroom addition to improve safety and replace outdated learning spaces

-Address ADA-compliance and accessibility issues

-Complete HVAC system upgrades for safety, comfort and efficiency

-Improve electrical systems to support learning technology

-Replace deteriorating infrastructure from the 1921 building

-Create flexible, functional academic spaces to support student learning and future programming

The bond will be repaid over a series of 20 years. The tax impact will be an estimated increase of $2.70 per year on every $1,000 of taxable property value. Per the district, for a home assessed at $150,000, the estimated tax impact would be $14.92 per month; for agricultural land, the estimated tax impact would be $0.34 per acre per month.