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Grain Valley North Middle School will have to wait a little longer for a much-needed expansion.
Voters rejected a $3 million bond issue Tuesday with 813 votes (65.09 percent) in favor compared to 436 votes (34.91 percent) against. The rules are different during a February election. Two-thirds approval is needed to successfully pass a bond issue, which is 66.7 percent. That means the issue fell short by about 20 votes.
The issue would not have raised taxes.
“This is very disappointing,” Superintendent Roy Moss said about the results. “I haven’t seen the numbers for voter turnout yet, but I would imagine they are low. That probably added to the situation.”
Funds from the bond issue would have been used to complete the third phase of the middle school. That includes the completion of the exploratory classroom wing and the start of a second wing of classrooms that would have brought the building’s capacity to 450 students. The exploratory wing would have included two fine arts classrooms.
If additional money had been left after the classroom additions, the kitchen area would have been expanded and new kitchen equipment would have been purchased.
“It is disappointing that we live in a country where democracy is the supreme rule and where 65 percent of the people voted to do something, yet it was not enough,” Moss said. “But we won’t let this deter us. We will continue to plan and move forward.”
The first two phases of the building, which is east of the Central Office and the Early Childhood Center on Pink Hill Road, included the construction of the main building and gymnasium. Additional room is available for future expansion.
Moss said a tax levy increase failed in Grain Valley several years ago, but he said he does not remember the last time that a bond issue has failed.
“We will now reorganize and rethink the next step,” he said. “We are continuing to grow we so still need the additional space. We will just have to bring it back another time.”
Grain Valley North Middle School will have to wait a little longer for a much-needed expansion.
Voters rejected a $3 million bond issue Tuesday with 813 votes (65.09 percent) in favor compared to 436 votes (34.91 percent) against. The rules are different during a February election. Two-thirds approval is needed to successfully pass a bond issue, which is 66.7 percent. That means the issue fell short by about 20 votes.
The issue would not have raised taxes.
“This is very disappointing,” Superintendent Roy Moss said about the results. “I haven’t seen the numbers for voter turnout yet, but I would imagine they are low. That probably added to the situation.”
Funds from the bond issue would have been used to complete the third phase of the middle school. That includes the completion of the exploratory classroom wing and the start of a second wing of classrooms that would have brought the building’s capacity to 450 students. The exploratory wing would have included two fine arts classrooms.
If additional money had been left after the classroom additions, the kitchen area would have been expanded and new kitchen equipment would have been purchased.
“It is disappointing that we live in a country where democracy is the supreme rule and where 65 percent of the people voted to do something, yet it was not enough,” Moss said. “But we won’t let this deter us. We will continue to plan and move forward.”
The first two phases of the building, which is east of the Central Office and the Early Childhood Center on Pink Hill Road, included the construction of the main building and gymnasium. Additional room is available for future expansion.
Moss said a tax levy increase failed in Grain Valley several years ago, but he said he does not remember the last time that a bond issue has failed.
“We will now reorganize and rethink the next step,” he said. “We are continuing to grow we so still need the additional space. We will just have to bring it back another time.”
