Surrey school to contest bond election

Local News Surrey school to contest bond election By JILL SCHRAMM November 13, 2026 1 min read MDN File Photo A Surrey school bond issue would support safety and other improvements to the school building. Once official election results are released, the school board plans to challenge results showing the bond issue failed. Trending SURREY - The Surrey School Board has decided to contest Nov. 3 election results that saw the district's bond issue fail by 5 votes. Supt. Steven Buck said the board will be consulting with an attorney, but no action related to a court challenge of the election can occur until after Ward and McHenry county canvassing boards meet on Monday, Nov. 16, and the state canvassing board meets on Nov. 18 to finalize results. Voters narrowly defeated the 20-year, $5.8 million bond issue, 465-317, based on the unofficial vote tally. The measure required 60% for passage, which would have been 470 votes. However, it was discovered a street coding error by election officials had kept 12 eligible district voters in rural Deering in McHenry County from receiving a ballot that included the bond issue. In a letter to the school board and administration last week, Secretary of State Michael Howe apologized for the error and said he would provide a letter of support if the district wishes to challenge the election in court. The school board proposed the bond issue to address several building issues, including aging portable classrooms and other aging building issues as well building and fire code noncompliance and safety concerns.