The $97 million bond issue to build a new middle school in Renton lost  some ground Friday in trying to reach a 60 percent yes vote, sealing its fate.

The latest tally from following Tuesday’s special election was released mid-afternoon. New tallies will be released weekdays, with the final count on Feb. 28.

School officials and supporters have been thanking voters for overwhelmingly approving the two Renton School District levies, while acknowledging the bond has failed.

The tally is now 9,607 approving the bond to 6,964 rejecting the bond. The percentage is the key figure, 57.97 percent yes to 42.03 percent no. Thursday’s figures were 57.96 percent and 42.04 percent.

There’s little ground to make up the shortfall; only one new ballot was received by the elections office Thursday. How many ballots were received Friday wasn’t released yet. And nearly all the ballots received so far have had signatures verified and been sent on for counting.

The School Board must decide at its Feb. 29 meeting whether to place the bond measure on the April 17 special election ballot or wait until a later election.