Close defeat for school bond weighs on students

Mark Strickert and Kara Thompson pulled chairs into the principal's office Friday afternoon to talk about their feelings in the wake of Tuesday's election, when Jackson residents barely voted down a $27 million bond issue for a new high school. If 106 people had voted "yes" instead of "no," the bond would have had the four-sevenths majority needed to pass.

"I think a lot of people were ignorant as far as where the money was going," Strickert said.

Thompson added, "A lot of people said 'Our taxes are already too high, sweetheart.'"

Together, they presented a long list of excuses, which brought out emotions ranging from disappointment to anger to resolve. They were two students speaking with one voice.

Later, three more students were pulled into the conversation and the voice was amplified. Tyler Tankersley, Candice Perry and Lucas McIntosh scoffed at the notion that people would vote down a measure solely on the basis of money. They were flustered that people in their town would turn down students without truly knowing the need.

"We offered tours at 8:30, 12:30 and 7 every Wednesday," Tankersley said. "And we advertised it really well. It just doesn't make sense. If you're going to vote no, that's OK, vote your heart. But don't vote without visiting the stupid school. Don't vote no just because you see the word 'tax.'"

The five students were among a larger group of students who lobbied hard before, during and after school for the tax increase. They went out and knocked on strangers' doors. They made random telephone calls. They gave tours, they spoke to groups, they practically begged for a new high school.

And none of them did it for themselves. The new building will come long after they've donned the caps and gowns. They did it for the future students who, without construction updates, would experience the same overcrowded and deteriorating conditions that they endured for three years.

On Friday, the school seemed to be in regroup mode. The artist renderings showing what the school could be were still displayed in the foyer of the science and mathematics building.

The students who lobbied on behalf of the school district still feel the sting.

"If everybody could've just convinced two or three more people, we would've had it," said Thompson, who wants to get a job in public relations some day. "We need to sit down, look at everything we did and find out how to make it better. We deserve a break, but I think what we did worked really well. We just need to expand on it."

The five students will allow themselves a little breather, but will hit the campaign again before April, when the bond is likely to appear on the ballot again.

"We lost a battle, but we can win the war," Strickert said. "You can never do too much. I feel like it's my civic duty."

All of the students talked about procrastination. Some of the buildings on the campus will only hold out so much longer before they become dangerous or useless. As time goes on, the cost for steel and construction will go up, they said.

"It'll cost $33 million in five years," Tankersley said.

The group also talked about the high school's reputation. Several high school groups, including the band, the Future Business Leaders of America and the debate team are usually among the tops in Missouri.

"Just imagine how much better we could be with new facilities," Tankersley said.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635