For a fourth time, Silo Schools lost the bond election that add renovations to the agricultural education facility and new classrooms, plus awnings to the school.

The bond failed with a 54 to 46 percent vote. This was about 60 votes short of the super majority needed.

Silo Superindendent Bill Caruthers said he is very disappointed that the bond once again failed to get the super majority required in Oklahoma to pass.

Caruthers credits the continued lack of support to a campaign of misinformation that he said is being used to turn residents away from the bond.

Caruthers said this group of people is using scare tactics and lies to mislead voters into believing the school plans to use the money for things other than what is on the bond.

Caruthers said that for the school to do so would be highly illegal and cannot be done. He said that everything the bond money would be used for has to be filed in several state offices and must be specific as to the use of the funds.

Despite the loss, Caruthers said he won’t give up. “We’ll go back to the drawing board and sharpen our pencils,” said Caruthers.

He said the biggest hurdle is to find a way to get the information about what exactly the school needs to people on the outlining are of the district.

The bond passed in the Silo box by 63 percent and in the Durant box by 60 percent. Caruthers said it is the outlining areas that are less connected with the school and its needs that are losing the votes.

“We need to get the word out there,” said Caruthers. He said they may do more television and paper ads this time around instead of mail outs and open houses.

Caruthers said that the needs are beginning to change and get more drastic with the growth of the student base. He said that over the past week the school has gained approximately 10 more students.

Caruthers said that the students see what is happening and are beginning to get angry about the bond not passing.

“They’re disappointed,” said Caruthers. Caruthers said he is proud that Calera passed the bond for a new gym at their school but the Silo students see it differently.

Caruthers said the students see another school getting and gym and they are upset. “They think golly they get a new gym and all we want are classrooms,” he said.

Caruthers said his saving grace is that he has great students that will persevere. “It would be nice to see what it’s like to have everything we need though,” he said.