It has been a year of big change for the St. Joseph School District leading up to Tuesday's vote.

Those changes have earned praise from some and ignited anger and hostility from others.

While emotions have run high, the district has stuck to its mantra, the changes had to be made.

Superintendent Dr. Melody Smith said, "I said in that 2008 document in 2011 the beginning of '11 we would have to close two schools and that was if the 63¢ levy had been restored — renewed in April — with that current funding we could no longer continue to operate."

That statement was the spark for what has been a fiery year in the school district.

It all began last April when voters said "No" twice at the polls.

No to spending for two new schools and no to a tax levy without a Sunset clause.

Doug Flowers said, "By not renewing that 63¢ is about $6.5 million and that forced us to make some cuts that we didn't want to."

The district cut 119 jobs from the budget.

Boundaries were then re-drawn and two schools were closed, forcing 1,400 elementary students to move to different schools, but hope came in the last hours, as Neely and Webster closed their doors in May, a community group now known as, "Our Children. Our Future. Our Decision.," opened a window.

The group offered to develop a long range plan for the district in addition to funding and running a new campaign to re-authorize the levy, this time with a Sunset, but not everyone agreed this was the right direction.

"I wish the task for all the best, but I think this is not the appropriate decision for the community at this time," Sarah Hockschwender said last July.

It has been an emotional roller coaster since that time.

Words have flown like daggers and a last minute push by Citizens Against Forever Tax has wedged a divider into a community trying to do what is right for the kids.