Board directs fall school-perception survey after failed referendum; staff to return with options

After the district’s April operating referendum failed, administration presented high-level budget scenarios and recommended ways to proceed. Sam (district administration) outlined a two-year picture that could include $1.6 million in reductions and a projected $3 million deficit by the 2028–29 school year if no new revenue is approved.

Board members debated whether to move quickly to another referendum in August, wait until November or gather community input first. Several trustees said a statistically rigorous school-perception survey gives better guidance for draft proposals and tax-tolerance estimates. One board member noted prior surveys were predictive of referendum outcomes and that a fall survey would allow results to inform an eventual resolution required in January.

The board voted to direct administration to work with the vendor School Perceptions to conduct a fall mail survey and obtain results in time for the September full-board meeting so the district can shape a proposal and next steps.

Nut graf: The board framed the survey as a way to gather statistically valid feedback on priorities (facilities, transportation, co-curriculars, tax tolerance) before deciding on timing for a future referendum and before finalizing multi-year reductions.

What’s next: Administration will scope the survey (questions on tax tolerance and priorities), target a mail-based sample to the district’s voter geography and deliver results by the September meeting; special meetings and committee work were authorized to develop options in the interim.