Voters in Idaho’s largest school district – West Ada, formerly known as the Meridian district – have narrowly failed to pass a $105 million bond issue, which fell short in yesterday’s election though 63 percent supported it with just 37 percent opposed. Bond issues require a two-thirds supermajority to pass.

Idaho Education News reports that turnout was sparse in the school bond election, at just 9.5 percent of registered voters. It was the first bond issue sought by the district since 2005, and came in response to an 18 percent increase in student numbers since 2005-06. The bond was intended to fund the construction of two new middle schools, one new elementary school, renovation and expansion of  Meridian High and site purchases for future new schools; Idaho EdNews reporter Kevin Richert has a full report here; he also has a statewide roundup here on how various school bond levies and bond issue vote fared.