By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Niles Community Schools will not be seeing a new high school or repairs to existing buildings anytime soon.
The $105 million bond proposal was defeated Tuesday by a vote count of 1305 to 4471.
The first votes posted were from precincts three (Niles High School), four (Eastside School) and five (Niles Fire Station).
The precinct with the closest margin between votes was number six, which recorded 295 'yes' votes to 524 'no' votes. Precinct six was located at the Westside Administration Building.
Voters from precinct two at Howard Township Hall posted more 'no' votes than any other precinct, with 730 voting 'no' and 160 punching a 'yes' vote.
In absentee voting, 171 filed 'yes' ballots and 550 voted 'no'.
Final results were posted at Niles City Hall shortly after 10 p.m.
Kathy Zeider, a parent of Niles students and a member of the local group opposing the bond, Save Our Schools, said "the community has spoken" and given its opinion about the 7 mill proposal.
"It this were a true necessity, it would have sold itself," Zeider said.
Superintendent of Niles Community Schools Doug Law said the school board was disappointed and surprised by the outcome, and, most likely will not re-address the issue any time soon.
"The board is going to have to take a step back and see what the information tells us. The problem is still there," Law said. "I know the board and they will wait to solicit as much public info as they can get."
Next year's budget and teacher negotiations are now at the top of the agenda, Law said.