In a narrow loss, Prop R, the $43.2 million, no tax increase bond issue, was voted down by St. Louis and Jefferson County voters. Requiring a 57.4 percent majority, only 7,712 out of 14, 252 (54 percent) of voters approved the bond issue.
“First of all, I want to express my appreciation to our Rockwood community, a majority of whom voted in favor of the bond issue,” Superintendent Bruce Borchers said in a statement to the district. “It is disappointing to lose by such a small percentage. It is too early to speculate regarding the impact this will have on our schools. I can assure you that we will continue to be fiscally responsible as we meet the needs of our students with our available resources.”
If passed, funds from Prop R would have allowed the district to support three priority areas: technology, safety measures, infrastructure and maintenance of current facilities in schools across the district.
At MHS specifically, the bond issue would replace aged computers, the aged wood field poles and provide energy saving controls to reduce electrical consumption, among other measures.
“Most importantly, the Prop R would have replaced aged computers and the HVAC rooftop units,” Principal Dr. Greg Mathison said.
Dr. Mathison said as both a principal and resident taxpayer, he was disappointed that Prop R didn’t pass.
“But I am thankful for a very active community that did show support for our schools, just not at a high enough percentage,” Dr. Mathison said. “We will continue to provide an excellent education and continue to be creative to find ways to absorb those costs.”
Dr. Mathison said this early in the game, he did not think he could make a projection at the effects Prop R not passing would have on the school.
“Some items will be delayed another year,” Dr. Mathison said. “But the HVAC system is projected to go out and may go out.”
Janet Strate, president of the school board, said the district will begin gathering information on critical areas that will directly affect student achievment.
“We need to know how much those critical items will cost,” Strate said. “Our budget doesn’t have to be approved until the end of June so we will work with the superintendent and other administrators to determine where we can make cuts to have a balanced budget.”
Strate said the district doesn’t yet know why exactly Prop R didn’t pass.
“We will look at the numbers broken down by polling place and assess how many people voted from different community areas,” Strate said. “Our district is really large and some people may have felt it wasn’t worth their time to get out there and vote.”
Strate said Prop R failed by about “370 or 380 votes.” Drew Roley, senior, said he did not vote for Prop R because of previous wastage with bond issue funds in the past.
“I saw the same kind of financial imprudence this time as I have seen in the past, the same kind of general language,” Roley said.
However, Roley said he wasn’t strongly opposed.
“I’m not even really that against Prop R,” Roley said. “And I do think it’s dumb that even though a majority voted for it, it didn’t pass.”
Rich Nauman, resident and voter, said voting for Prop R was an investment for the community.
“Educating our children is important because our children are our future,” Nauman said.
Sharon O’Keefe, resident and voter, also voted in favor of Prop R.
“I voted for it because we have to keep our schools up to date and safe,” O’Keefe said. “I think it’s the right thing to do.”