Updated count gives Pasco schools new hope

Pasco’s school bond is within 27 votes of passing.

The $99.5 million measure gained ground Wednesday reaching 5,917 votes — or 59.7 percent were approving it.

The bond needs 60 percent to pass.

Franklin County’s results page does not list the number of ballots left to count.

In the case of a few vote difference, state law says there are no mandatory recounts conducted for local measures. However, a group of voters could pay for a recount.

“We’ll continue to keep a close eye on the results,” said Superintendent Michelle Whitney. “We were prepared to move forward either way.”

She said they are encouraged by the uptick in the results.

“We’re grateful to all of the community members who voted in this election and made a commitment to support Pasco’s students,” she said.

If the bond measure passes it will pay for a two new elementary schools, a new middle school and to rebuild Stevens Middle School, as well as money to upgrade its transportation center, improve security at schools, fix some roofs and buy land for future schools. The new schools would open between 2019 and 2021.

A fourth middle school was added to the bond proposal after a different bond measure failed to pass in February.

The buildings are aimed at easing a school system where nearly every school is holding more students than it’s designed to house, including nearly every elementary school, the two high schools and a middle school.

Earlier Wednesday, Whitney shared the district’s plans if the measure fails to gather enough votes. The 30-member Community Builders group, which helped develop the current measure, plans to meet again in December.

If the remaining ballots don’t close the gap, the group will consider what to do about the next bond proposal.

If it passes, the group will continue its work with MGT Consulting to develop a long-term plan for the district’s buildings.

Either way, the measure will be a topic at the next board study session.

This story was originally published November 8, 2017 at 6:30 PM with the headline "Updated count gives Pasco schools new hope."