Nearly two of every three voters in the Worthington school district voted for the $37.5-million bond issue Tuesday, handing the district what may be the most lopsided victory in recent history.

Late Tuesday night, with 53 of 56 precincts reporting, Issue 14 was winning by a vote of 13,214 to 7,855 -- or 63 percent to 37 percent.

The "no-new-millage" bond issue will provide $37.5-million over the next five years for repairs, buses, computers and furnishings.

The approval will not increase taxes, but will permit the district to issue bonds as current bonds are retired or refinanced. Millage will never go above the 3.6 mills currently paid by taxpayers, but millage will not decrease as fast as it would have without approval of the issue.

The campaign for Issue 14 was very low-key. Not a single yard sign was placed, and letters to the editor were few. The issue stirred little controversy.

Only a few administrators turned out to celebrate as results poured in on Tuesday night, and they replaced the usual election night cheers and acceptance speeches with quiet appreciation and promises to spend the voters' money wisely.

"The voters took a leap of faith that we're going to do what we said we would," said board member Marc Schare. "If I have anything to do with it, we will."

Superintendent Melissa Conrath said the bond issue was completely different from the 6.25-mill combination operating/permanent improvements levy that was soundly defeated in May.

"We worked hard to address the concerns expressed after the May election," she said.

Board member Robert Horton agreed.

"Even voters the last time said if there was just a bond issue on the ballot, we would have voted for it," he said.

The challenge now will be to spend the money wisely, and keep residents informed.

Lists of projects proposed for each school are posted at those schools. Conrath expects those lists to continue to be visible, with updates added as projects progress.

A citizens' committee is also being formed to oversee repair projects at district buildings.

Approximately $18-million of the funds raised will go toward repairs and renovations of district buildings and property. Projects on the "to-do" list include replacements of roofs, carpet, lighting, heating and cooling systems, parking lots and lockers.

Another $3-million will be used to replace 40 buses over the next five years. No buses have been purchased in the past three years, and 20 of the district's 81 buses are more than 15 years old.

Most of the district's 3,400 computers will be replaced, new software purchased and a single PC platform will be established with approximately $3-million of the bond issue money.

The rest of the funds will go toward the purchase of furniture or into a contingency fund.

"I think passing this bond issue was critically important," said board president Gary Tyack. "We need to tend to maintenance and computers and other things this will provide."

Breakdown of voting patterns show a break from school election returns over the past 20 years. The issue won its biggest approval at precincts within the Worthington city limits.

In most elections, voters from Columbus must pass levies and issues in great enough numbers to cover losses in the city.

On Tuesday, precincts with the highest approval levels included one at Worthingway Middle School, where 77.5 percent of voters voted "yes;" Worthington Estates Elementary School, 75.4 percent; and a second Worthingway precinct, 73.5 percent.

Two of the lowest approval percentages were at Sutter Park Elementary School, located in the northwest section of the district, in Columbus. One precinct there approved the bond issue by 55.8 percent, a second by 59.8 percent.

Those who cast their votes at the Worthington Community Center approved by 58.4 percent.

The lowest passing percentage was at the Antrim Park Shelterhouse, where six people voted, with only one casting a positive vote.