By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

Educators in four school districts have two weeks to decide whether to ask voters again in February to support money issues that failed at the polls earlier this week.

The deadline for putting money issues on the Feb. 4 ballot is Nov. 21.

Bond issues to build new elementary schools were rejected by voters in the Talawanda, Batavia and Springboro schools. Springboro voters also turned down an operating levy, while voters in Wayne Local rejected an income tax and a bond issue to add a community arts center to the middle school.

A bond issue to build a new high school and make building improvements in the Ross Schools won voter approval Tuesday, as did a Little Miami Schools operating levy that had been rejected in May.

Talawanda superintendent Phil Cagwin said administrators are beginning discussion with the teachers union about the fate of Stewart Elementary School.

"We've known we needed to replace Stewart for two years,'' Mr. Cagwin said. "It's a matter of when we close it."

That discussion will begin at today's 7 p.m. board of education meeting at Talawanda High School.

In Springboro, discussions are focusing on where to put a growing student enrollment.

Over the next three years, the district is expected to increase its enrollment by about 900 students.

In the Wayne Local Schools, superintendent Tom Isaacs and his staff are putting together a list of cuts to be implemented Jan. 1 that would reduce the budget by $145,000, the same amount as a levy that expires Dec. 31. He said he will recommend a property tax of at least 5 mills be put on the May ballot, and plans for a fine arts center are on hold.