The Hallsville School District said Wednesday that a bond issue approved by voters in April will not be certified by State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick.

According to a post on Facebook, the district learned on Friday that the State Auditor's Office declined to authorize the bond issue.

The post states the Boone County Clerk's Office didn't follow the newspaper publication requirements listed in state law.

The law reads, "If there are two or more newspapers of general circulation in the jurisdiction, but no two of opposite political faith, the notice shall be published in any two of the newspapers within one week prior to the election."

The clerk's office published the notices three and two weeks ahead of the election.

"The District is disappointed that the State Auditor is relying on this clerical error to decline to certify the bond that was approved by the voters, as this bond would have resulted in many planned facility and safety improvements for our district," Superintendent Tyler Walker wrote in the post.

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said in an email that her office had not seen any notice or paperwork as of Thursday morning, but will work with the district as they move forward.

Lennon also said she thinks it is important to give voters enough notice ahead of the election.

"I think it’s important to provide sufficient notice to voters in their most local news source, and with two of those papers printing only once a week, I want to be sure that if a print error or unforeseen publishing issue occurs, we still have adequate notice out to the public," Lennon said in the email. "In the same vein, we mail sample ballots to voters four weeks before Election Day and have them available on our website well in advance of Election Day."

Walker said the board of education is looking at other options, including placing the bond issue on a future ballot.

The issue passed by 74% in April.

The Centralia School District also had a bond issue election that was passed by voters in April. According to the state auditor's website, it was published in the Columbia Missourian on March 18 and 25 and the Centralia Fireside Guard on March 21 and 28.

The bond money for Hallsville would be used to complete the second part of a three-phase plan to address the growing student population and security upgrades, according to the district.