DeWITT, Neb. - Earlier this week, a bond issue aimed at improving facilities at Tri County Public Schools in Southeast Nebraska narrowly failed to pass.

Now, it begs the question, where does the district go from her? Superintendent Randy Schlueter says his first reaction to the results was disappointment.

“Disappointed for the students of Tri County and the district,” Schluter said. “Disappointment that we won’t be able to expand our programs and move our district forward.”

The proposal was for a project costing over 28-million-dollars that would increase capacity, expand parking and improve arts and athletic facilities. The election was conducted solely by mail-in voting. About 52% of voters were against the bond issue, thus resulting in it not passing.

As for a plan moving forward, Schlueter says that’s up in the air.

“The board continually said we are going to go on the assumption that the bond issue would be successful,” Schlueter said. “So they don’t have a plan in place or a next step.”

As the district begins to regroup, Schlueter says there is an option to do make certain improvements bit by bit, but it’s made more difficult with the bond issue failing to pass.

“The board could do things by peace meal, but they couldn’t do it all,” Schlueter said. “You could decide to do one piece now and pay for it in 3-6 years, then do the next, but by that time down the road your costs are significantly greater then if you had done it all at once.”