At just after 10:00 p.m. on the night that an attempt to raise the Hope School District's millage from 34 to 39 failed by just 116 votes, 1,008 to 892, Superintendent Jonathan Crossley released this statement:

Above photo:  A view of the desks in a Hope High School classroom.  The millage that was defeated Tuesday night by Hope Public Schools District voters was intended to address issues with aging classroom furniture as well as student safety, climate control system repairs, bathroom repairs, the deterioration of Hammons Stadium seating and playground surfacing among other needs.