Colfax school district survey results: taxpayers say they would support $7 million in projects but not $15 million

By LeAnn R. Ralph

COLFAX  —  The results are in from the Colfax school district’s survey, and the taxpayers who responded said they would be likely support half of the proposed referendum spending.

Sue Peterson of School Perceptions presented the survey results to the Colfax Board of Education at the March 21 meeting.

Overall, those who responded to the survey said they might be likely to support replacing the temporary classrooms ($1.4 million); technical education and Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) expansion ($600,000); building infrastructure such as roofs, carpeting and heating controls ($2.2 million); improving safety and security, including moving the high school office to the east entrance ($500,000); six new Liquid Propane buses ($600,000); and a new bus maintenance building ($550,000).

According to the survey results, respondents would not be likely to support air conditioning to dehumidify, control mold, and to better maintain technology such as computers ($3.3 million); a new high school auditorium ($4.9 million); and elementary locker rooms, which would be beneficial for visiting sports teams so they do not have to try to find their way through the entire building to use locker rooms ($300,000).

About 30 people attended the Board of Education meeting. Some of them were there for the survey results, and some of them were there for the discussion on wrestling.

A handful of the people who attended the meeting appeared to be there for both the survey results and for the wrestling discussion.

Communication 

The survey asked how people wanted to receive information about the school district, and respondents were asked to check all that apply: school mailings; website; attend meetings; Eau Claire Leader Telegram; radio; e-mail; text message; school board meetings; Dunn County News; school newsletters; Facebook/social media; Colfax Messenger; television.

Of those who responded to the survey, school mailings, newsletters, the website, Facebook/social media, and the Colfax Messenger were popular choices.

Peterson remarked on two of the choices: The Colfax Messenger and Facebook/social media.

A total of 48 percent of those who responded said they wanted to get news about school from the Colfax Messenger, indicating that the local newspaper is viewed as an important source of information about the school district, she said.

Peterson noted to the Colfax Messenger reporter at the meeting that the newspaper has an essential role to play in disseminating information to district residents about possible referendum projects.

A total of 36 percent of those who responded said they also wanted to get school news through Facebook/social media, which Peterson said was somewhat unusually high.

Since more than one-third of those responding said they wanted to get information through Facebook, Peterson urged school district administrators to take full advantage of posting information to social media.

Bill Yingst, district administrator, said information had been posted to the school district’s Facebook page about the survey.

Response rate

All together, 587 people responded to the survey, Peterson said.

“That’s a 24 percent response rate. That’s great data,” she said.

A total of 2,400 surveys were sent out.

School Perceptions personnel and school district administrators hoped to have at least 400 surveys filled out because a sample size of 400 is statistically significant.

Of those who responded to the survey, 1 percent were between the ages of 18 and 25; 11 percent were between the ages of 26 and 35; 19 percent were between the ages of 36 and 45; 22 percent were between the ages of 46 and 55; 19 percent were between the ages of 56 and 64; and 28 percent were 65 years or older.

The respondents in the older age categories who do not have children going to school in the district and who are not employed by the school district are the respondents to pay attention to because they are the ones who are likely to vote in a referendum election, Peterson noted.

Out of those who responded to the survey, 68 percent do not have children attending school in the district.

A total of 48 percent of those who responded said the Colfax school district has a positive impact on the value of their homes.

A whopping 84 percent said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the Colfax school district and believed the district and the school board are spending their tax dollars wisely.

It has been 20 years since the Colfax school district held a referendum, and 58 percent of those responding said it was time to pursue a referendum to update the school buildings.

The numbers are “very positive” Peterson said, adding that district residents understand there is a need to make an investment in the schools.

Long-range planning

Yingst commended the Board of Education for having the survey done and asking for the opinions of district residents.

“It’s good to get feedback. We want to be completely transparent,” he said.

The survey is part of the district’s focus on long-range planning, Yingst said.

Interest rates have been low for the last seven years, but that will change and inflation will come back, he said.

The cost of any construction project increases by a certain percent annually, and on $15 million, the cost of construction could be expected to increase by $450,000 to $600,000 per year, Yingst said.

“What is $15 million today, for the exact same projects, would be $26 million in 20 years,” he said.

The Board of Education and administrators in the district are trying to be responsible about maintenance projects and updates, Yingst said.

“In 20 years, I do not want anyone to say ‘why is the school falling apart?’” he said.

No money

The Colfax school district has no money in the budget at the end of the year to do any of the projects on the survey or even a part of a project, Yingst said.

The state has decreased funding for schools for the last ten years, he noted.

In response to a question from the audience about the percentage of state aid as compared to the local property tax levy for the Colfax school district, Yingst said Colfax receives about $5 million in state aid and levies about  $2.5 million in property taxes.

Colfax is close to two-thirds state aid and one-third local property taxes, he noted.

Steering committee

The Colfax Board of Education’s next step will be to form a steering committee to analyze the survey results and to make recommendations to the school board.

The steering committee will, ideally, have representation from all of the municipalities in the school district: Towns of Colfax, Grant, Otter Creek, Tainter, Cooks Valley, Hay River, Red Cedar, Wilson, Elk Mound, Howard and Sand Creek, along with the Village of Colfax.

If the steering committee were to recommend a referendum for the fall election, the referendum question(s) must be submitted to the county in August to appear on the November ballot, Yingst said.