RAPID CITY (AP) – A plan to build new schools in Rapid City and upgrade other facilities was thwarted Tuesday when a light turnout of voters who braved poor road conditions rejected a $189.5 million bond issue.
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RAPID CITY (AP) – A plan to build new schools in Rapid City and upgrade other facilities was thwarted Tuesday when a light turnout of voters who braved poor road conditions rejected a $189.5 million bond issue.
A majority of voters favored the issue but it needed 60 percent approval to pass. It would up with 56 percent support, the Rapid City Journal reported. Only 23 percent of voters cast ballots in this special election, which followed a Monday winter storm that made driving tricky.
If it had passed, the money would have gone toward three new elementary schools and one new middle school over six years. Four of the elementary schools plagued by deteriorating conditions and overcrowding would have closed. Rapid City High School's building would have been converted to an elementary school.
Lori Simon, Rapid City Area Schools superintendent, said the issued would have passed in 43 other states that do not require a super majority.
“This is not the speech I was hoping to make,” Simon said at a watch party. “I’m obviously incredibly disappointed and sad for the thousands and thousands of kids in our district who attend sub-par schools and facilities in far too many crowded classrooms. That makes me sad.”
