Donegal School District Referendum 2?
Posted by tom | Mar 25, 2009Last night I participated in the Donegal School District consensus making meeting. Overall the gathering went well, i.e., there were no loud, angry confrontations and it seemed that everyone had opportunity to share and common threads among those present were obvious. But next steps which will lead to a successful referendum are not readily apparent. AND there does not appear to be relief from the state as the school board reports their conversations with state representatives at their last school board meeting raised little hope of changing Act 1. Note: School board minutes posted here and click this link for the Lancaster Sunday News article Money for ... what? Educators await details of stimulus.
Details:
The Donegal Springs Elementary School (DSE) gym was divided in half with the public gathered in 14 round table groups with 8 chairs each and the board sitting at 'a long table' below the stage. After an overview of the evening, each table group received 1 facilitator for the school board/district. This filled out most of the tables and even added seating at several. As such, I'd estimate 110-120 in the room.
The facilitator walked through the first four questions of a "Community Survey for a Building Project Referendum," which will be made available on the District website
1. We want to ensure that all residents are informed about the facts concerned our building projects. How do you learn about school related information? Are there other ways that we should use to keep residents informed?2. What information do you need to make an informed decision regarding a construction project?3. Why do you think that the last referendum failed to be approved?4. What do you think the community would support?
As part of this conversation the board member, created a sheet which provided a table group consensus
1. What would be supported in the next referendum2. Why the previous referendum failed3. What alternate projects could be added if money was saved on the designated projects4. What would not be supported in the next referendum
Three comments:
1. I expected a stronger turnout and so did a number of the other community members with whom I had conversation. The first public meeting I went to at the beginning of the referendum proposal packed DSE gym. The last public meeting before the vote filled a fair amount of Donegal High School auditorium. Maybe there was not enough advance notice. Maybe the public thought it would be more of the same (which it definitely was not). Maybe most people already know how they'll vote no matter the cost/timeline proposed (parents pro-building others against increased taxation based on their current lifestage and/or our economic situation). The table at which I sat, including my parents and Jim Campbell, proposed not going ahead w/o district wide research/survey and a 'chunking' of the overall project which gives clear prioritization of what must be done first (and why). This would move in the direction of multiple smaller referendums. Note: some tables proposed going ahead w/o polling or research. The board will post the survey at the district website and I assume that will enable others to contribute their thoughts. I'm not sure who/how the information will be compiled for presentation at the Tuesday, April 7 School Board Mtg.
2. It struck me that the building of a new high school (and the transition of the older high school to a middle school came up) and keeping the project price tag below 80 million (for some between 40 - 60 million) had widespread support among those present. There was a variety of opinion on what to do w/Maytown and elementary consolidation (e.g., Maytown/Marietta at Riverview/Middle School and moving the Middle School to the old high school after a new high school is built). FYI: There was a strong statement against a pool (which was not part of the original project, but came up b/c the district has a swim coach for students desiring to compete in swim meets. The students practice in public pools) and a 'Taj Mahal' football stadium.
3. Note: After the first four questions the survey focused upon the high school (new athletic proposals and facility renovations) with only 1 question on Elementary facilities and none on the Middle School.
