RCS district residents approved the proposed EXCEL Capital Project during voting on Tuesday but rejected a proposal to make upgrades to the district's Transportation Building.

The vote count for the $2.35 million proposition 1 – which provides funds for necessary repairs and energy efficiency upgrades to the district’s four schools – was 451 yes to 396 no.

As a result of additional state aid through the state’s EXCEL (Expanding Children’s Education and Learning) Program, the total combined local cost of this project will fluctuate between  $1,577 to $6,409 after a first year payment of $38,290. Those figures represent the cost of the proposition to the entire RCS district. The cost per $1,000 assessed property value would be less than a penny for 14 of the years and an average of 4 cents per $1,000 for the first year.

The vote count for the $390,000 proposition 2 – which would have funded roof repairs to the transportation garage and  the installation of a modern fuel island for a local cost of less than $10,000 a year for 15 years – was 393 yes to 451 no.

For proposition 3, Rosemary Puckett, the only candidate for the vacant ninth position on the Board of Education, received 491 votes. The Board of Education is expected to appoint her on Oct. 15 and she will serve until the May election. Five other individuals received one vote each as write-ins. 

A total of 835 voters turned out for Tuesday’s contest.

"We are delighted that the community understood the need and responded to this once in a lifetime opportunity to secure additional state funding to make these necessary changes and upgrades," said Superintendent Vicki Wright.