$51-Million Bond Issue Fails in Johnston

It was a close race at the polls, but it looks like it's back to the drawing board for the Johnston School District.

Voters in the failed to approve a .

The bond issue failed with 55.35 percent approval, or 2,684 votes yes, according to unofficial results form the Polk County Auditors Office. The bond needed a 60 percent approval to pass.

The bond received 2,165 no votes, or 44.65 percent of the vote.

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The bond issue was just one part of a that includes building a new high school, renovating the current high school to house eighth- and ninth-grade classes and renovating the current middle school to house students from Wallace Elementary and a district-wide pre-school program. Wallace would then be renovated to house district administrative offices.

The district hosted more than 30 meetings outlining the facility plans including at Johnston Middle School.

Superintendent Clay Guthmiller told residents at a public information meeting last week that if the bond failed the Johnston School Board would have to determine next steps. Those setps could include  another bond election in April 2013.

Guthmiller said if the bond failed the distirct would have to continue to utilize modular classrooms at Johnston Middle School, Beaver Creek and Horizon elementary schools.

How do you think the district should proceed? Tell us in the comments.

Under terms of the bond issue, the tax rate would have increased to 99 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation, which translates to $7.97 a month or $95.69 per year for the owner of a $200,000 home.

The 125 acres purchased for the proposed high school is located off Northwest 100th Street, between Northwest 62nd and Northwest 70th streets.

Based on approval of the plan, construction would have begun next spring and the school would have opened in the fall of 2015. 

See more stories on the $51-million bond issue and proposed new high school:

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