The Greene County School District $21.48 million bond referendum passed Tuesday with 68-percent approval.

The Greene County Board of Supervisors canvassed the votes on Friday, confirming that the bond measure had passed by the same margin. The Jefferson Precinct registered a 75-percent approval, the Scranton Precinct also voted in favor with 52-percent and Grand Junction Precinct voted the measure down with 55-percent against. There was a 51-percent voter turnout with 2,856 ballots cast of the 5,516 registered voters in the school district.

The bond amount will used to build a new high school and regional career academy. The total cost of the project is $35.48 million. The additional funding is coming from Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation of $4.5 million for a gymnasium and performing arts center, Greene County Supervisors of up to $5 million for the career academy and voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL) as well as Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) funds of $5 million to renovate the current high school into a middle school. Others who have donated to the project include: Dick and Delores Finch of $100,000 and a $50,000 five-year pledge from Landus Cooperative toward the career academy.

Greene County Schools Superintendent Tim Christensen says one of the next steps in the project is to pass a special resolution, during this Wednesday’s budget hearing, to increase the proposed tax levy of $12.69 by another $2.70 per $1,000 valuation with the passage of the bond. The School Board will also work with OPN Architects on the details of how the new classrooms will look.