Voters approved school bonds in Durham ($194.2 million), Gaston ($175 million), Mecklenburg ($516 million), and Moore ($54 million) counties. Voters defeated the $42.1 million school bond in Macon County.

I would like to think that my Regional Brief had something to do with the defeat of the Macon bond, but the Macon County School Board deserves the credit. The school board inappropriately used $5,000 in taxpayer funds to pay for advertising that told people to vote “for the children.” After questions were raised about the origin of pro-bond signs and billboards, a group called ?Citizens for Better Schools for Macon County” filed with the Macon County Board of Elections.

To make matters worse, the school board then played (or perhaps didn’t play) dumb. According to a Macon County News article, one school board member said ?We just didn?t realize that it was necessary [to file]. It just never entered my mind.? Apparently, the school system attorney ?didn?t pick up on it either.?

The school board eventually admitted fault and voters lost faith in the school system and the bond.