School Bond Issue in Strongsville Passes

Issue 116, the bond issue for the Strongsville schools, has passed by 83 votes, according to final numbers released by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections show.

Official results from the elections board, released Tuesday afternoon, show the issue won 11,530 to 11,447.

"We're happy -- we continue to move in a positive direction," Superintendent John Krupinski said. "I'd like to thank the community for their trust in us."

The margin is within one-half of 1 percent, which means there will be a recount. 

The fate of the issue, which was ahead by 3 votes at the end of Election Day, has been up in the air until late absentee and up to 698 provisional ballots could be counted.

"I think this is something everyone's going to embrace," said Ward 3 Councilman Jim Carbone, who worked with school officials to draft and promote the plan. "This is the injection the schools and community needed."

The $81 million bond issue will pay to build a new middle school on the site of the existing Center Middle School, make improvements -- including new technology -- to Strongsville High School and make repars to elementary schools.

Krupinski said the Cuyahoga County results showed the issue passed by 109 votes. The district then added in the Lorain County votes, which cut the margin to 83.