Voters in the Eatonville and Bethel school districts have turned down requests to put more local money into their schools. In the special election that ended Tuesday, the districts' separate bond measures fell well short of the 60 percent supermajority of approval that was required for them to pass. Eatonville's bond received a 42.7 percent yes vote. Bethel was at 52.7 percent on a proposal that was defeated for the second time this year. Votes remain to be counted, but the early outcomes aren't expected to change when results become official May 6. In the approximately 1,800-student Eatonville district, a bond totaling $19.4 million over 25 years was proposed. The majority of the funding would have been spent on improvements of athletic facilities, including new fields and the replacement of a 79-year-old, wooden football grandstand that officials say has become dangerous because through deterioration. Superintendent Krestin Bahr said district officials will "listen to the concerns of our voters to review our future plans.GÇ¥ The Bethel district, home to about 18,000 students, was seeking $236.7 million to be collected over a 20-year period. The biggest portions of the proceeds would pay for major remodels or new construction involving six schools, plus a new aquatics center. The same ballot measure received a 57 percent yes vote in a February election.
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