Voters in the Dell Rapids School District have defeated a $17.3 million bond issue. There were 867 "yes" votes and 851 "no", but the measure needed 60% to pass. The money would have gone toward building a new elementary school and expanding the middle and high schools in Dell Rapids. We talked with the Superintendent of the Dell Rapids School District about what the vote means.

We visited the music class at Dell Rapids Elementary School. On this day, the students are taking a test, but the room they're doing it in used to be part of the elementary school stage and is about half the usual size. Superintendent Tom Ludens says, "At all 3 buildings we're pretty much at 95 to 97 percent capacity." As a result, the district has gotten creative when it comes to accommodating the number of students in these classrooms. But Superintendent Ludens believes growing class sizes won't stop any time soon, and says waiting to build and expand will just cost taxpayers more. Ludens says, "Those moms that are looking for their 1 and 2 year old kids, the expense is going to be considerably high if we have to wait 2 to 3 years down the road."

Today's bond vote was already a million dollars more than the one held in May.  Ludens says that's because the price of building supplies just keeps going up. For him, he sees this as a challenge that just won't go away, unless changes are made. Ludens says, "We do need some extra space and our elementary building is probably 51 years old."  Ludens tells KSFY, the school board will likely  bring back the measure again, although it might have some changes. This, despite being defeated by voters, twice.