A $41 million bond proposal for the McAlester School District failed by a wide margin on Tuesday.
Unofficial results from the Oklahoma Election Board show 853 (69.52%) votes against the proposition, with 374 (30.48%) voting yes, for a total of 1,227 voters.
Oklahoma state law states a bond must secure more than 60% of the vote to pass.
”While the outcome was not what we had hoped for, McAlester Public Schools remains committed to serving students with excellence and continuing to engage the community in important conversations about the future,” Dr. Robert Steeber, McAlester Public Schools superintendent, said in a press release following the results of Tuesday’s election. “While we are disappointed in the results, we are grateful to every community member who participated in this important decision. The needs of our schools remain, and we will continue to explore solutions to enhance student opportunities, improve safety, and build pride in our district. Our students deserve the best, and we will not stop working toward that goal.”
The proposal would have invested more than $41 million into the district, including improvements to Hook Eales Stadium, a STEM classroom with a safe room, a multi-purpose locker room, a student training and wellness center, new tennis courts, a new agriculture education building, and improvements to the band building.
According to the figures provided by the district, the bond would have raised property taxes by 14% for residents living within the McAlester School District.
The results will be certified by the Oklahoma Election Board on Friday.