By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostVoters soundly rejected the $107 million St. Joseph school
bond issue, dashing hopes to convert the American Family Insurance regional headquarters
into a second high school to go along with a refurbished Central High School.Under the proposal, Benton High School and Lafayette High School
would have been turned into middle schools as the district ended the three-high
school model in favor of a new two-high school model.All three incumbents on the St. Joseph School Board lost in a
crowded field.The bond issue drew little support. Only 4,573 voters cast
ballots in favor of it while 8,330 voted against it; a split of 64.56% opposed to
35.44% in favor, according to unofficial election results reported by the
Buchanan County Clerk’s office.A very vocal opponent to the bond issue, Kenneth Reeder, led
the crowded field for three St. Joseph school board seats, receiving 4,982 votes,
according to unofficial results. David Foster came in second with 4,876 votes
and LaTonya Williams took the third school board seat, receiving 4,200 votes.
St. Joseph School Board Vice President Lute Atieh came in fourth behind Colby
Oyerly. Atieh garnered only 3,921 votes. Incumbent Larry Koch finished fifth
with 3,267 votes with Rick Gehring, who had been appointed to replace Seth Wright
after he left, finished last with 3,151 votes. Michelle Traster, who mounted a
last-minute write-in campaign, receiving 1,754 votes.In total, 13,450 votes were cast in the election, 26.7% of the
registered voters in Buchanan County, better than the 20% turnout projected by
Buchanan County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey.Click <a href="https://www.livevoterturnout.com/buchananmo/LiveResults/en/Index_9.html">here</a> for full election results from the Buchanan County Clerk's office.

Voters reject St. Joseph school bond issue; oust all school board incumbents