Northwest Missouri voters in five school districts outside St. Joseph went to the polls to decide on school improvements for their children. Despite generally hard economic times, voters in three districts said yes, and in one district the issue failed. The fifth district saw the vote pass, but it must wait for a partial recount.

The largest school bond issue was the $6 million in the North Platte R-1 School District. Voters gave the first-time issue a resounding yes, 577 to 430.

“It was all thanks to the steering committee making those phone calls and knocking on doors,” said Dr. Jeffrey Sumy, the superintendent. “And voters saw the value.”

There will be a groundbreaking in Edgerton next spring, and other projects will get started in the summer, Dr. Sumy said.

The smallest school issue was for $750,000 to do basic improvements in Stewartsville. Voters gave it a big yes, with 258 votes in favor of the issue to do roof repairs, brick tuckpointing, some window replacements and other repairs. Only 63 voters said no.

Those numbers included voters in both Clinton and DeKalb counties.

“This shows how much voters support the school district,” said Ono Monachino, the superintendent.

The district plans to work on bid requests and financing. Work should commence no later than June.

Voters gave the Trenton R-IX School District a big thumbs up, too. The $4 million bond issue received a 74 percent yes vote to 26 percent no.

“It’s something the people wanted, and the district will get started right away on making this a reality,” said Becky Albrecht, the superintendent. The school district also plans to apply for stimulus money in the spring, Ms. Albrecht said.

Rock Port voters will have to wait until sometime this morning to know the outcome of their school issue. This was the sixth time for voters to decide on the bond issue, which would replace the 80-year-old junior and senior high school building. The issue needed a voter approval rating of 57.1 percent.

There were 460 yes votes to 343 no votes, which means the issue may have passed by two votes, said Alan Kerr, the Rock Port R-II superintendent. However, there has been a request to recount the 74 votes cast in Watson, and that could change the results.

Watson’s unofficial results for the R-II school issue were 18 yes votes and 56 no votes. The Atchison County clerk’s office will conduct the recount at 9 a.m. today.

A 69-cent levy increase was too much for Mound City R-II School District voters, who turned down the issue.

“I don’t think it was a vote against schools and children, it was a vote against more taxes,” said Kenneth Eaton, the superintendent. “We’re still going to educate kids.”

The nays cast 264 votes, while the yes supporters could muster only 251 votes.

Marshall White can be reached at marshall@npgco.com.