What’s next for Lancaster County after voters rejected massive school bond referendum
More mobile classrooms, redrawn attendance lines and even a new bond referendum vote are possibilities in Lancaster County after voters turned down a $588 million bond package on Election Day.
"I think every option is on the table for us," said Elizabeth Bryant, Lancaster County School District spokeswoman.
Almost 60% of county voters chose "no" on a bond package that would've built a new high school and elementary school in Indian Land . Two more new elementary schools in the county would've consolidated facilities in Lancaster, Kershaw and Heath Springs. Other renovations and upgrades would've stretched across the county.
Now the district has to reset and come up with a new plan to address school crowding.
Election day brings two new school board members, one of them replacing Chairman Brad Small. So it's unlikely a timeline for next steps will be set by the board's next meeting on Nov. 19, Bryant said.
The new plan will focus on creating space for students, she said. The district could raise its tax rate by a smaller amount than the bond would have, something the district could do without a public referendum.
Mobile classrooms at the most packed schools are a likely option. Redistricting, though often unpopular for school districts, could happen. "I'm not saying we'll do that," Bryant said. "That's something that we might have to consider."
A bond takes typically takes a year or two, she said, from start to election date. A new bond proposal could take less time since so much work was done on the failed bond.
Why Lancaster voters opposed the school bond
Board member Melvin Stroble chaired the subcommittee that came up with Tuesday's bond. It's important to separate the vote, he said, from public support.
"The result of the bond in no way means that Lancaster County as a whole is not supportive of education and our students," Stroble said.
Community members ahead of the bond questioned the high cost, the equity of devoting so much money to Indian Land and the need for a new high school there. Stroble heard so many variables, from curriculum to traffic, that he doesn't see a single reason for the bond failure.
But larger voting trends on Tuesday seemed to point toward the wallet.
"Nationally, folks are concerned about the economy," Stroble said. "And that concern certainly spills over into taxes."
The election map in Lancaster County shows a geographic divide, too. The five precincts on the northernmost tip of the Indian Land panhandle each voted for the bond, with approval between 51% and 64%. The farther north the precinct was, the higher approval was.
The 31 precincts below where the Catawba River meets the panhandle each voted against the bond. In all, voter turnout across Lancaster County topped 79%.
Results aren't official until they're certified.
Continued new home subdivision growth
Stroble and Bryant are encouraged that the bond allowed district personnel and new Superintendent Raashad Fitzpatrick to connect with their community. Both want to see that process continue as next steps emerge.
The failed bond is a data point, Stroble said, that can help create a better plan. While it's unclear exactly what will happen next, he said, it can't be complacency.
"School bells rang all over Lancaster County regardless of the bond," Stroble said Wednesday morning. "We've still got to educate kids. Our buses are still on the road. Our operations are still running."
Indian Land has had new neighborhoods pop up for a generation now. More new home subdivision are under construction there, but also in Lancaster and Kershaw.
"The next steps start now," Stroble said.
