The Marion County Board of Education will have to go back to the drawing board for a plan to improve the county's schools after their school bond fails to pass. The bond failed by just over 800 votes.

Superintendent of Schools James Phares says he's disappointed with the outcome but respects the voters' decision.

The proposed $41.5 million bond along with $20.2 million from the School Building Authority would have provided several school upgrades, a new East Fairmont Middle School, and 10 new gymnasiums. Now that SBA money will go to other counties in the state.

Phares says the BOE has their Comprehensive Education Facilities Plan and they'll look over the break down of the vote. They want to see what projects were supported in what communities.

Folks who voted against the bond say they checked "no" for several different reasons.

Some didn't think all the renovations and additions were necessary and others felt that the money should be used to pay teachers more instead of improving some wear in the buildings.

Surveys before the vote showed that 31% of folks would vote no if they'd have a tax increase, and the average increase would have been about $5.

Superintendent Phares says if folks really can't afford the bond, then they need to find a new solution. But if folks didn't make an effort to learn about the bond, then shame on the county.