Voters rejected the Somers School District's $7.125 million bond request Tuesday, quelling district officials' hopes for a new school building by 2010.

More than 1,800 people participated in the mail-in election - 53 percent of the district's 3,518 registered voters. Of those, 969 voted against the bond issue; 878 voted in its favor.

"We're disappointed because the bond went down but the problem still remains," Superintendent Teri Wing said. "The vote tonight didn't give us a solution; it gave us another problem to solve."

Had the issue passed, the bonds would have been used to construct a new building on the middle school campus. The district's sixth- through eighth-graders would have moved into the new building, and students in grades four and five would have moved into the existing middle school building.

The move would have freed up six classrooms at Lakeside Elementary School, which has experienced significant enrollment growth in recent years. Both schools currently are at capacity.

"For sure we can't just go with the status quo, because the problem is not going to go away," Wing said. "And the longer we wait to solve the problem, the more expensive the solution is going to be."

The district will hold a work session Tuesday to discuss possible options.

"If everyone had voted on the merit of the bond and the need, we'd be starting a building a program this summer," Wing said. "I think we understand how people feel about taxes. When you have a chance to vote on property taxes, it's the only time you have to say no.

"Unfortunately, the kids are the recipients of that decision. I completely understand how people feel, but like I said, it does not solve the problem."

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at [email protected]