TYLER — A proposal to expand the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton school building narrowly failed with voters last week. Although the building proposal wouldn’t be moving forward, school officials said Monday that RTR will continue to look at ways to meet students’ needs.

“We’re going to work through it,” said RTR Superintendent David Marlette.

However, he said the school building would still face crowding from student growth.

“It doesn’t mean that our problems have been resolved,” he said.

The RTR school board canvassed the results of the Nov. 7 building bond referendum Monday at their November meeting. The building expansion proposal failed 508 to 492 — a margin of just 16 votes.

Also on Monday, board members also voted to approve a new superintendent contract with Marlette for the 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27 school years.

After the board meeting, RTR school board chairman Jeff Hansen said the board would continue to take part in district planning, “And see what our options are.”

Many school building projects have taken more than referendum to pass, said school board member Peggy Dunblazier. If a referendum fails, “You go back and reassess,” she said.

In the meantime, the school board is showing a commitment to open enrollment at RTR. At their November meeting, the school board unanimously passed a resolution to continue to accept open-enrolled students in the school district.

The board also voted to approve a new three-year superintendent contract for Marlette.

During Monday’s board meeting, Marlette said the resolution to continue accepting open-enrolled students was made in response to criticism of the proposed school building expansion.

“During the election, some of our people that were voting no, that were against it, put a lot of information out there that we should close open enrollment at RTR,” Marlette said. “I can’t tell you how many people have called and asked, are we closing open enrollment.”

Marlette said the resolution was “so that we can send a signal, and let me know and my staff know that the board feels that we should continue. I strongly recommend that we do. And I think to stop open enrollment would send a terrible message to people around us.”

Marlette said there were some Minnesota school districts in the Twin Cities area that did not have open enrollment.

“You need to understand there’s a whole different world down there,” he said. “Schools are very close to each other, and they don’t want kids moving around just to play sports.”

“I don’t know of a single public school district in southwestern Minnesota that has closed open enrollment,” Marlette said.

“Wouldn’t you have to have a fairly significant reason not to accept open enrollment?” Dunblazier asked.

“You would have to take it to the state,” Marlette said.

The school board voted unanimously to continue accepting open enrollment applications at RTR.

Earlier this year, Marlette had said he planned on retiring. However, he said Monday that he met with the RTR finance committee and said he wanted to continue to serve as superintendent.

“I said I don’t feel the job is done yet, and I would like to come back,” Marlette said. “I asked for no money increase. I simply asked that my vacation days accumulate instead of dropping off at the end of each year.”