The measure lost by 85 votes, with 809 nays to 724 yeas - or a ratio of 53 percent against and 47 percent in favor.
“The biggest issue in this election is that we didn’t get the vote out,” said Randy Pittenger, president of the board of trustees. “Total turnout was lower than we have seen in previous bond elections.”
Pittenger said the economic climate could have had an effect as could the recent tea party tax protests three weeks ago.
“It’s something we have discussed at board meetings,” he said. “We knew we should be sensitive to it and that’s why we proposed delaying the tax a year if it passed.”
Pittenger said the board is unlikely to call another election until the community is ready. He said the board will know when that time has arrived. The need for another school will be abundantly apparent to the public and the community will be willing to support it, he said.
Pittenger said there are a lot of questions to be asked. The first step will be to reconvene the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee and invite others to join to give it a fresh viewpoint.
“Then we can ask the question about what wasn’t right about this election - was it the timing or the economy?” Pittenger asked. “What were the dynamics here that prevented us from being successful?”
Dr. Vivian Baker, school superintendent, said the election may have been lost but the need for a new school is still there and won’t go away. Lake Belton Middle School has an enrollment of 974 and Belton Middle School 894. By 2011 the two schools will jointly be over capacity by 500 students. By 2012 that number will rise to 670.
“We will still provide a quality education within the facilities we already have,” she said. “They will be compromised by facilities, but not by instruction. We will continue to provide the very best for our children.”
Dr. Baker said the planning committee needs to be debriefed to see if it has a recommendation. A political action committee may be formed to connect with the community and to act as an advocate for a future bond issue.
She said as the middle schools become overcrowded, temporary buildings might not be their first option.
“They are costly to move in place and are not energy efficient,” she said.
The district may opt for shared classrooms. Underemployed areas, such as the stage in the auditorium, may be set up for classes.
Pittenger said that had the issue passed Saturday, it was an ideal time from the standpoint of low interest and competitive construction costs. No one knows what the future holds six months or a year from now.
“We made a valiant effort for our children,” Dr. Baker said. “We did a good thing, and I don’t think a good thing is ever a failure.”
