Less than a month after the April 7 school levy and bond election in St. Joseph, a News-Press reporter detailed facts that bear repeating today:

n Of registered voters ages 18 to 44 — including the core group of younger parents with school-aged children — turnout was 24 percent.

n Of registered voters ages 45 and older, turnout was 51 percent, or more than double that of younger voters.

n Both sides polled more than 9,000 votes for their position. Out of 18,176 votes cast, the margin of defeat for the levy proposal was 172 votes, or less than 1 percent.

After losing on both the levy and the bond, school proponents called a well-advised timeout. They invited input from any person with an interest in education. They weighed various options and brought forward the proposal on the ballot today.

The differences this time display a real interest in being responsive to the voters’ concerns.

The proposal to restore the 63-cent levy for school operations — amounting to roughly $6 million a year in funding — now comes with a five-year “sunset” provision. The proposal for selling bonds and building two new schools has been dropped until a long-range strategic plan is developed.

The elements are in place for a straightforward up or down vote on funding for the public schools. But levy supporters cannot afford to overlook the critical lessons of April.

Proponents of the revised levy proposal have worked to turn around opinions in every demographic, but most of all they must improve turnout among younger voters if they hope to prevail today.

The message in short: Win on the issues, but also get your voters to the polls.