Dexter voters approve bond for school improvements

Voters in the Dexter School District overwhelmingly supported a $15 million bond, but narrowly re-elected incumbent school board members.

Just over 77 percent of voters said ‘yes,’ to the bond, which passed 1,290-377.

A slim three-vote margin separates two of the three school board candidates and may require a recount, according to Stoddard County Clerk Cecil Weeks. Any additional votes received by the Friday deadline for members of the military could also swing the total, said Weeks. Vote counts are unofficial until Friday.

With 991 votes, incumbent Nancy Mayer easily secured the first seat on the school board.

Incumbent Herman Morse received 932 votes against challenger Ronald Glaus II, who had 929 votes.

“I appreciate the confidence the voters showed in me and hope that I’m always worthy of their confidence,” said Morse, 69, a state representative for District 151.

Glaus said he was unsure if he would seek a recount. Glaus, 42, is a process engineer with Alan Wire and has three children.

The Dexter Board of Education will hold a special meeting Thursday to sign contracts related to the bond issue and construction projects. The board also expects to reorganize that night and elect a new school board president.

Construction could begin within the next two weeks at the high school track, said Superintendent C.A. Counts.

“We’re happy with the victory and the community putting their support behind the school and providing for kids,” said Counts.

Bond funds will be combined with district money to make improvements totalling $18.2 million. The bonds will be repaid with an extension of the current debt service levy.

A new preschool program will start, along with construction of close to 50,000 square feet of new classroom and multipurpose space. Much-needed roof replacements will also take place.

Assistant Superintendent Gavin Miller attributes the number of projects, and the great need for many of them, to helping the district succeed.

“I think it was just an overall combination that every student is going to be impacted by this bond issue,” said Miller.

Both Miller and Counts also credited the work of the long range planning committee.

The committee has worked for the last year and a half to develop plans and research what would be needed most, said Miller.

Attempts to reach Mayer prior to the election were unsuccessful.

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Additional reporting by Dexter Statesman Editor Josh Ayers.