De Soto ? The DeSoto school district Tuesday passed a $76.7 million bond issue for school construction, technology upgrades and athletic field improvements.

Voters in the rapidly growing district approved a 20-year bond issue with 4,046 votes, or 54 percent, in favor and 3,441, or 46 percent, against, according to unofficial results.

In May, voters rejected a $91.2 million bond issue. That mail-in vote failed by 125 votes.

Susan Summerlin, who led a group that campaigned in support of the second bond issue, said she was relieved voters in the diverse school district finally found common ground.

“I’m very pleased we may have turned that corner,” Summerlin said.

Sharon Zoellner, deputy superintendent of the DeSoto district, said the new bond issue would pay for construction of three elementary schools and a middle school.

Significant technology improvements will be made in school classrooms, and better sports fields will be developed.

Plans for a fourth elementary school and construction of a district athletics facility were scrapped to respond to concerns of people who voted against the first bond issue, Zoellner said.

“It’s been a tough battle,” Summerlin said. “We were able to convince people to see the light for the greater good.”