Moses Lake school bond still 4 votes short of win

MOSES LAKE — Four votes.

That’s how many votes the $135 million school construction bond needs to reach the 60 percent threshold and pass.

“So close, yet so far away,” said Michelle Price, current superintendent of the Moses Lake School District. “We’re holding for Feb. 24 when the results will be certified.”

As of Friday morning, the Grant County Auditor’s Office reported 5,647 votes in favor of the school construction bond out of total of 9,417 cast — a terrifyingly close “yes” vote of 59.97 percent.

The district proposed the bond last fall to build a second high school as well add an eleventh elementary school and refurbish the current high school. Moses Lake’s schools are struggling with the sheer number of students, and the high school, built for 1,600 but currently holding 2,200, runs classes on three staggered shifts.

Price said the school board is going to hold an emergency meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to consider their options.

“If it’s not validated on Feb. 24 as passed, they can consider rerunning it in April, or they can regroup and figure out, ‘now what?’” Price said.

According to Grant County Elections Supervisor Trisha Gibb, votes are still straggling in, and the county can accept as valid any ballot postmarked by Feb. 14.

“We just had a group of them come in today,” she said.

Gibb also said 70 ballots were challenged because of missing or irregular signatures. Letters were sent out to those voters, and if they come in and identify themselves by Feb. 23, those ballots could be accepted, Gibb said.

Regardless of how the vote goes, Gibb will certify the election on Feb. 24. And children will still find their way to the Moses Lake schools.

“If it doesn’t pass, that doesn’t make the problem go away,” Price said.