OUR OPINION

Close votes can drive a wedge in the tightest of communities.

A recent vote for new facilities for Turpin’s school district received more than a majority, but Oklahoma requires 60 percent approval for a bond issue.

Those who wanted the expansion fell short by about 25 votes, 134 to 131, and the initial response was to try to do a better job of presenting the issues and vote on it again in six months.

That may not be the best course of action.

Those who voted against the measure have been discussing their concerns, and they believe they are being attacked as not supportive of education or of the kids.

That is the difficulty of these types of issues in small communities.

Pushing the same idea for the next six months may only drive the wedge deeper.

Since a vote cannot take place again for six months, that gives the community time to do two things.

The first is to step back and let the post-election emotion subside.

The second is to go back to the drawing baord and get more input from those on both sides.

The more conversation goes into the planning, the more support a plan can get.

Presenting the exact same plan may end up getting the same result because those who voted against it the first time will still feel that they had no input on the issue.

Schedule some meetings and open the door to the public to Share their concerns. Let the voters have a say in the process, and if the plan needs to be changed, then change it.

But for now, let the issue rest, enjoy the holidays, and when January rolls around, start with a clean slate.

Whatever the voters decide will be in the best interest of the tight-knit Turpin community.