Chester County school bond fails again, but supporters are still working to get funds approved

CHESTER, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Lewisville, Great Falls, and Chester high schools desperately need repairs.

Chester County School District officials say a $227 million school bond would make it easier to build new Lewisville and Chester high schools and additions to Great Falls High.

But Tuesday's referendum failed to get the votes it needed to pass — again.

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"Some of the locker rooms are so outdated, when it rains, it floods," said parent Bernard Heath. "I picked my grandson up probably three weeks ago now... He said the school had cracks in it and you can see through the wall."

Neighbors in favor of the bond met with Queen City News via Zoom on Thursday. Chester school officials have been working to pass a bond since 2018.

The last one voter-approved was more than two decades ago. Neighbors believe most of the county voted no because voters lacked information about the district's needs.

The multi-million-dollar bond would've raised property taxes more than $200 a year. Treneice Emerson says that's not as shocking as it sounds.

"Most of the homes in Chester were appraised at like of maybe $157,000 so that $200 tax increase wasn't going to be applicable for those voters in the Chester County," Emerson explained. "Not only that, that $200 was it was going to be spread over two years as they were building and getting draws from the construction build then the taxes would increase gradually over that."

The county's growth would also benefit the brunt of the bond.

"Also, there are new homes in Chester, in the Richburg community; as people are moving into these new communities that tax, that $200 was going down to as well," she said. So and that's the information we were trying to get to them."

People in the group QCN spoke with were born and raised in Chester, each attending one of the three schools in critical need. Heath attended Chester High when it was built in the 1970s. He says it only had a 20-year lifespan.

"So I know the school is in terrible condition right now," Heath said.

Though the results of the vote were disheartening, group members are putting together a new plan to present to the district.

"And have them put this bond back on the arm for election and maybe a special election date, because we want this momentum to keep going and keep it on the forefront," Emerson said. "We're going to try to collaborate with some 'vote yes,' in those communities where we didn't get the vote and try to persuade them. And we are going to also try to meet with some 'vote no' people with a mediator to help us dissipate a lot more myths and try to come together for the kids in our community."