Holding a special board meeting Monday, Jan. 15, the Stanley-Boyd Board of Education opted to go with Option 2 for the building referendum, meaning that voters will get to choose whether or not to approve $23 milion in school building improvements at the April 2 spring election.
Prior to the Monday meeting, the board heard from residents at a Facilites Advisory Committee (FAC) meeitng on Jan. 10.
The Facility Advisory Committee meeting stretched longer than expected and saw more attendees than usual. Stanley and Boyd residents expressed their concerns over current tax increases and the potential for more that would happen with a future referendum that the school board is considering presenting to the public during the April 2024 spring election. Anthony Menard, CESA 10, shared the recent survey data results and received thoughts and comments from the meeting attendees.
Menard recapped the three Stanley-Boyd District renovation options that the school board had previously presented to the public for their feedback. Option 1 was the lowest priced at $15.3 million and consisted of constructing a three-station gym and locker rooms. The estimated tax impact was $56/year per $100,000 assessed property value. Option 2 came with a higher price tag of $23 million but provided the school with more needed renovations including relocating the district office and constructing one central cafeteria in addition to the option 1 renovations. This estimated tax impact for local residents was projected to be $94/year per $100,000 assessed property value. The last option 3 included options 1 and 2 and also called for the expansion of the fitness center and weight room at a price of $24.2 million. $100/year per $100,000 assessed property value would be the estimated tax impact for residents.
Menard stated that a survey showing these options was sent out to 1,787 households asking residents to vote on the option that they preferred. Only 394 responses were returned with 152 online replies and 242 direct mail replies. The average age of residents who mailed their responses back through direct mail was 65+ years and the average age of those who responded online was 36-45 years while most responses showed that residents preferred communication through direct mail versus email, Facebook, phone or school website. Option 1 received 20% of the votes, option 2 received 28%, and option 3 received 20%. There was a 32% response rate for no referendum at all. Menard explained the assumption that there were more votes for option 3 and none but if option 3 was chosen, the voters who chose option 1 and 2 wouldn’t necessarily vote for option 3 since it is a higher dollar amount. But those who voted for option 3 would possibly vote for option 1 or 2 since they have smaller dollar amounts.
In the end, the survey results showed that option 1 of renovations showed a possible approval rate to pass of 54%-64%, option 2 showed 41%-51%, and option 3 showed 30%-40% thus making option 1 the safest option for the school board to choose.
Menard shared that a comment of feedback from the survey was the construction focus of athletics. “It seemed like the options were very focused on athletics and the adjoining spaces around athletics.” He added, “Through this whole process there is work being done to the gym performance area as far as for performing arts, theater, music programs. The school district currently is working on updating the upper elementary school to make it more of a better learning environment, better class sizes for the school district and the students.” He shared that when the resolution is decided, better updated information will be provided to the public to show all the areas that will be impacted by the renovations, not only the athletics program.
As most of the attendees were new faces that hadn’t attended any of the previous meetings, Stanley Boyd Superintendent Jeff Koenig gave a brief summary on how the board came to choose the three renovation options that were presented to the public. He explained that a facilities study was completed approximately three years ago that identified the problems with the existing school facilities and the issues that would need to be resolved moving forward, spaces that were under-utilized and spaces that needed significant repair.
“Instructional space is our priority,” Koenig stated explaining that this was the first issue that was fixed. He shared that the upper elementary section of the school was constructed in the 1970s as an open concept area that was changed after it was quickly found not to be feasible. This has led to ventilation and lighting issues, problems with access to rooms, and some sections have to use breaker boxes in the hallways to turn lights on. “We wanted to make sure that that was made into a nice classroom space that matched the quality instruction that is taking place, “ he said referring to the school construction that is scheduled to begin after the completion of this school year. He also referenced the moisture problems on the north side of the building, safety concerns, and bus drop off and pick up design issues that were taken care of this past summer. Koenig shared that the upper elementary remodel set for this summer was originally projected to cost between 4.5 to 5.5 million, but it came in considerably under budget at under 2.5 million. He said that the school board was approached by the public to add gym space in the school due to the shortage of gym space. Since the cost of a gym isn’t built into the budget, the board decided that they would go to referendum for construction of that magnitude. They invited the public to attend and form a Facility Advisory Committee in July. The first Facility Advisory Committee members expressed their desire to have a three-station gym built which led to the three options on the survey that was presented to the public.
“You mentioned the project that you are doing with the elementary this year, is that project reflected in the tax increase we saw this year?” asked Jeremy Mahr.
“Not at all,” Koenig replied. “It’s completely separate.”
Koenig explained, “We have what is referred to as a low-revenue school district, which means we were capped by the state since 1993 at the lowest legal level of what a school district could get for revenue. It capped what we could spend on students. It capped what we could do.” He added, “Now we are still a low revenue school district, and we are still in the very bottom of the allowable level. The difference is this year the state allowed that to go up $1,000 per pupil. We have roughly 10,070 students.” He commented that Stanley-Boyd is a highly aided school district as well. “Because we are so highly aided, when you raise the revenue limit like that the first year is completely on the shoulders of taxpayers,” Koenig said that he warned the school board beforehand. “We couldn’t stop the levy or the mill rate from going down the last few years because the way the state budget was structured.” He said the state pumped through all kinds of school aid that was no increase to schools, it was completely a tax break to taxpayers. This year they raised that and Stanley-Boyd’s was pushed down which is uncomfortable for a lot of people.
“Next year we will get aided at the level of what we are at this year. So, it’s going to go back down next year if everything is the same,” Koenig mentioned.
As local residents expressed concern over school enrollment numbers, increased taxes, and the financial struggles of neighboring school districts, one member questioned the future need for the three-station gym if enrollment decreases and asked, “What’s going to happen to this building? Is it all going to go to waste?”
One resident questioned if it would be a better practice to wait to construct a gym in the future if school enrollment increases, stating that some communities can’t financially afford this type of referendum. “If you wait until those students, come in whether it’s five, ten years down the road adding this type of gym space is going to be far greater than it is right now, exponentially,” Menard answered. As the question arose on if the proposed new construction would affect the next school calendar, Menard responded that it would not affect the next school calendar because it would be phased construction and could be worked around the school year.
“It never gets any cheaper to build anymore,” was the general consensus.
School board member Chad Verbeten discussed the importance of having a space available for students to participate in after school activities. “Extracurriculars unlock student potential. Statistics show that kids involved in extracurriculars are more likely to stay in school and stay out of trouble. Now I respect everybody that is here, and I understand why nobody wants to pay taxes. But I also look at it as my civic responsibility to pay taxes,” Verbeten said agreeing that no one likes to pay taxes. “Somebody thirty years ago paid taxes on a building. I never used this building, but somebody paid for it so my kids could use this building. That’s how I came to this position of I think this is a good idea.”
Verbeten said that it does appear as if the project is extracurricular sports related but added, “If you dig a little deeper there is something here for everyone.” He mentioned that the project would increase learning for students because they aren’t attending late practices and more safety as students and families wouldn’t have to travel so late.He stated that there are enhancements for the music and art departments as well.
“As part of this referendum there is the possibility of reworking the old gym so that it is more conducive to the arts.” He mentioned that some students aren’t athletes but like the extra-curricular of the arts which boosts community involvement. Option 1 also included existing gym space to be remodeled for performing arts to “make it a better performance space for those sound wise, acoustically, seating, and also small improvements to the middle school gym like lighting and updates to make it a better gym space.
“The question is, are we willing to pay?” Verbeten asked.
“Very fiscally responsible, very impressive,” one attendee commented on the financial leadership of the current superintendent and school board. Koenig believes that the tax impact will be lower than what is projected. He shared that the current estimates don’t take into account how they expect that state aid to fill in based on the revenue change from this year. Speaking of the possibility of neighboring school districts closing, Koenig remarked, “It was asked how long some of the neighbors will stay open? Thorp is running an operational referendum this spring because they are asking for over $900,000 for four years to try and meet their budget needs as well as doing some cutting. There are others. I know Cadott is going through a lot of cuts right now as well,” Koenig said.
Other attendees voice their frustration over a tax increase from the potential project and the low survey response.
“But only on a 20 percent turnout for a survey. I don’t think it will pass. I think you should have a bigger percentage of the survey before you start putting a referendum out there,” one attendee commented.
“I think the mood is pretty sour out there,” Adam Smit said and remarked that he wouldn’t trust the survey numbers.
One attendee asked how much pressure can be put on struggling young families and older residents on fixed incomes.
Other attendees expressed their support for the future construction. “My opinion would be to move because of the need. I think that we need it. In my opinion this is something that’s essential and I would rather seen it done back when Oriole Park went up, at that time at that price,” Tom Hause said. “I would be for doing these things.”
Calling on the parents in attendance, School Board member Ryan Lewallen asked, “Do you not see any benefits this project can have on your kids?” He mentioned his own children and the late practices that are scheduled for many students due to lack of gym availability.
“You can’t keep raising prices,” Paul Close referenced increasing taxes and mentioned that playing sports is a personal choice. “Kids are here late at night. If you really want to play sports, I’ll come to practice at ten o clock at night, I don’t care that’s how much I love to play sports. But I’m not going to break five hundred people in the community because I want my kids to practice.”
Lewallen admitted that the school board hears from the local coaches how hard it is to schedule practices since there are only two gyms while other districts have more. It was stated that lack of gym space is a rising problem with the elementary and middle school students for physical education classes as well. Lewallen expressed his frustration over the lack of attendance and participation from the community at the regular school board meetings.
“I come to the meetings when I feel I should speak up,” Close said.
“I’ve been on the board for six years. I think this is the first time you’ve been at a meeting,” Lewallen stated.
Close said, “Correct because it’s been ran so responsibly, I don’t need to come to meetings.”
You’re voted in as a board member. People trust what your decisions are.” He added he chose to attend now because he is financially invested in the current decision.
“We had two other meetings too,” Lewallen added referring to the two previous Facility Advisory Committee meetings.
Kevin Holm, managing principal of LHB, addressed the meeting attendees and asked them to consider if they feel the project is needed. “Is the need justified? If the need is justified, do you go out now or not? I haven’t heard anybody say that we don’t need this in the community. If the need is there, this is the cheapest you will be able to do it,” he stated.
Verbeten said that the school board is looking for a sense of direction and is trying to listen and understand the wishes of the community. “Do we want a referendum? And if so, which one?” Verbeten said. “As a board, we’re trying to have you tell us what’s best for our community and what you’re willing to support.” Menard shared that more information regarding the facility planning projects is available on the Stanley Boyd School website under facility planning, including a video from Superintendent Jeff Koenig.
At the regular school board meeting on January 15th, the school board will choose whether or not to present a referendum to the public in April. If they choose in favor of a referendum the school board then needs to choose which option to present to voters at the April election unless they choose to wait until the November election. Choosing to wait would put the construction timeline into the next construction season and leave the possibility of higher construction costs. By Monday they have to file paperwork with the state in order to go to referendum in April. If what they propose doesn’t pass, they have to decide if they will vote on it again in November.