CANFIELD — Once again, the replacement of the aging Canfield Middle School is on hold.

On Tuesday, Canfield voters rejected a 3.7-mill, 35-year bond issue that would have provided funds to rebuild the middle school and renovate other school buildings.

The levy was defeated 55% to 45%, according to incomplete and unofficial results from the Mahoning County Board of Elections.

“Obviously, we are disappointed in the outcome,” Canfield Superintendent Joe Knoll said. “But we respect our community’s decision. The needs of our facilities remain a big priority and we’re going to continue to explore some solutions that our community can support. Like I tell people, our facilities aren’t getting any better and the costs aren’t going to go down.”

The levy would have raised approximately $64.2 million.

The majority of those funds would have been used to build a new middle school for grades five through eight. The cost was estimated at $46.9 million.

Knoll said $3.9 million would have been used for an additional 9,500-square foot gym.

The cost to abate and demolish the old building was estimated at $1.75 million.

The levy also would have raised $11.6 million for renovations at the school district’s three other buildings: C.H. Campbell Elementary, Hilltop Elementary and Canfield High School.

C.H. Campbell was built in 1961, Hilltop in 1970 and the high school in 1966.

“While the results of this vote were not what we had hoped for, we are incredibly proud of the effort our committee and many community members have put forth,” said John Schuler, marketing and communications for Committee to Support Canfield Schools. “Throughout this campaign, we experienced tremendous passion and dedication from parents, teachers, students and supporters who believe deeply in the future of our schools.

“Though we face challenges ahead, we remain committed to working together and finding ways to support Canfield Local Schools,” Schuler said. “And to create further opportunities for our students. Thank you to everyone who stood with us and engaged in this important conversation about our community’s future.”

It’s been a series of rejections for the school district since 2022.

In May 2022, voters overwhelmingly rejected a 6.9-mill levy that would have raised $107.8 million for a new K-8 facility.

The school district tried again in November 2023 with a reduced levy, a 7.5-mill bond levy to raise nearly $105 million.

That levy was rejected by approximately 60% of the voters.