Kelly misses OK of bond by 16 votes

BENTON, Mo. -- Students in Scott County's Kelly School District aren't going to be leaving their portable classrooms anytime soon.

With a Scott County vote of 493 in favor to 409 against, the measure fell 23 votes short

A supermajority of four-sevenths was needed to pass the $3 million bond issue, which would have increased the tax levy from $3.17 to $3.36 per $100 assessed valuation.

The project would have put all of the 1,050-some students under a solid roof by funding the construction of a new school building.

Currently several classes are held in portable classrooms.

Tuesday's numbers didn't include votes from Mississippi County, but school superintendent Don Moore said would include less than 10 votes, not enough to swing the election.

He said he was disappointed in the results, but the district would continue "the best we can."

Ron Schlosser, chairman of the building committee, said he was frustrated.

"I know there were at least 23 people who supported the project who just forgot to vote today," he said.

This is the sixth time in four years the district has tried to pass a tax increase to improve the school buildings.

In Nov. 2002, voters soundly defeated a $4.9 million bond issue to fund new construction.

Tuesday, the district's request was more modest.

Planned for the area east of the existing gymnasium, the proposed addition would have added nine classrooms, a computer lab, library, two science labs and an administration office.

Moore said he'd hoped scaling back the construction proposal and requesting a much leaner tax increase might change enough voters' minds, but it didn't happen.

"We had a majority in all precincts but it wasn't enough," he said.