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This is the phone survey that was done after the 2007 referendum failed. This was authorized by the board. Cost was approximately $12,000, one half was paid by Ameritas the financial agent retained by the district for the project. Keep in mind Ameritas has a financial interest in the passage of the bond issue and the subsequent issuance of bonds. It is my understanding that the agent worked with research associates and superintendent Oxley to develop the questions used for the survey. The board approved these questions before the survey was done. Most of the board members had concerns with the questions, but they approved them anyway. Research Associates is a Lincoln firm that is operated by Doug Evans a former LPS board member. They hired a utah firm, true vision research to make calls to district patrons at random. The transcript below is from the call i received on 5-9-08. I would describe this survey as slanted and misleading, therefore the results are inaccurate at best. the question about adding classrooms at the elementary was omitted from the results presented by Barbra Derek of research associates. When I questioned this she avoided answering the question telling me to contact her office. I find this whole thing very fishy. =========== Something really interesting here: (copied from story below) "The survey showed that 49 percent of the 300 people surveyed would vote for a $14.5 million bond issue. The majority of the people said they would vote against the other dollar amounts included in the survey that were $24.5 million and $17 million. The survey also showed 45 percent of the people thought renovating classrooms was the most important. A new gym, which was proposed with the bond issue that failed last September, only received 2 percent, while items such as updating technology and an auditorium received more support at 8 percent and 6 percent, respectively. "I was surprised that very few people thought we needed a second gym," Grimes said. "I thought that might have been a higher priority." Grimes was surprised because the survey conducted by Research Associates showed 80 percent of the people thought the community was more interested in athletics than the arts." =============== Just to put that in the proper perspective, the second question about the arts or athletics was misleading. it asks what the community is interested in, not the respondent. I even answered that one wrong. it's like it was purposely designed to favor athletics. it should have said chose what you prefer. the question about the 14.5 million bond issue had one important key difference from the other 2, it did not include the Gym. That is why it got a higher positive response. only 2 percent of the 300 respondents thought we needed a second gym. SO 49% would support a bond issue without the gym, and only 2% think we need a 4th gym, but lookeee, we still have a 4th gym in the plans!!!! this fall 2009 plan is still destined for failure

GIVE UP THE GYM PERHAPS? Below is a transcript of the questions asked when I was called for the RA survey .pdf copy of survey results and copies of news reports follow ============== Research Associates Survey 5-9-2008 What do you think the most important issue is in your community today?
The rising cost of goods. Ok. Economy?
Yes. If you had to choose, would you say your community was more interested in arts or athletics? Athletics The school board believes this school districts current facilities need to be renovated or rebuilt to adequately serve today’s students. Would you vote for or against a 24.5 million dollar bond issue to tear down the current junior senior high school and build new including a new gym that would increase taxes by 357 dollars annually for every l00,000 dollars of property value. I would defiantly vote against that. What is the main reason that you would vote against it? That doesn’t fit the needs of the school district. They have a school there they don’t need to tear it down. So they don’t need it? No. Not at that cost. No. What bond issue would you support? I guess I don’t trust the school board right now. So I wouldn’t support any bond issue. Would you vote for or against a 17 million dollar bond issue to renovate the senior high, add class rooms and build a new gym that would increase taxes by $229 dollars annually for every 100,000 of property value? I would vote against that. Which specific school renovation or building project would be the most important to you? Could you repeat that? Repeated question. You mean as far as..... what they need to update the school? It would be the vocational, like the AG and industrial arts. And also the fine arts, speech, drama. Ok, thank you. Which do you usually prefer Renovation of existing buildings or replacing of current building with a new one? Renovation. Why do you prefer renovation? The current building doesn’t need to be replaced. On a scale of A-F what grade would you give the Raymond Central Public school district? Um, just overall or? Yes Just in general In general I’d give it a D What grade do you think it should be? I think education should be our... most... our best thing we have because our children are our future. So I really think it should be an A. Would you support or oppose relocating the junior senior high school? I would strongly oppose that. I would work hard to... Well, that wouldn’t pass in this district so I guess I wouldn’t have to worry about it. But I would oppose that. Would each of the following factors make you more or less likely to vote for a bond issue if you knew that most class Cl schools in Nebraska have 2 gyms at the senior high school to provide space for today’s increased activities including additional sports, music, drama and speech events. Would that information make you more or less likely to vote for a bond issue? Ahh---it---I would not support a bond issue because of that. Less likely? Yeah, less likely A safety concern exists for these students who must drive to school early in the morning or late at night because of the need to share gym space for so many activities. Would that make you more or less likely to vote for a bond issue? That would make me less likely Prime rates are low which means the bond would be less expensive. Would that make you more or less likely to vote for a bond issue? Less likely The fine arts students including music, drama, And speech need space that is better designed for their needs. Would that make you more or less likely to vote for the bond issue? I think their needs could probably be addressed in other ways without a bond issue so I guess less likely even though they need something I don’t think it’s solved with a bond issue . Ok If a fine arts auditorium were included in the bond issue that could also be used by the community would that information make you more or less likely to vote for the bond issue? That would make me support... you know in other words the most recent failed one didn’t have that in it. So that would be a factor. So more likely? Yeah, more likely. [If] A bond issue would cause a smaller impact for lower income older taxpayers due to the homestead exemption would that make you more or less likely to vote for the bond issue? Less likely If the current building were torn down and replaced with a new building would that make you more or less likely to vote for the bond issue? Less likely If the current buildings were renovated and reused would that make you more or less likely to vote for the bond issue? More likely If a new gym were built, and the current gym renovated for both…for use of both an alternate gym and an updated auditorium would that make you more or less likely to vote for a bond issue? Less likely If mechanical and fire code upgrades were made would that make you more or less likely to vote…. Less likely If classrooms were added to the elementary school to make room for mandated programs like all day kindergarten and special education would that make you more or less likely to vote for a bond issue? Less likely Student enrollment is expected to increase. Would that information make you more or less likely to vote for a bond issue? Less likely If you knew that upgraded facilities make us more competitive with nearby school districts for student enrollment would that make you more or less likely to vote…? Less likely How do you feel about the amount of emphasis placed on subjects like vocational education in the Raymond public Schools? Do you think it is too much, too little, or about right? Uhhh… I think it’s probably actually too little, but they do a very good job compared to some of the other [area] schools, but they still could do better. Ok How do you prefer to hear about the tax impact of bond issues? As the dollar amount of the bond issue, as cents per dollar levy increase, or as the annual increase to your property taxes? Could you repeat that? Repeat question What way do you prefer to hear it? I guess I like to know all of those, but if I only had one it would the annual increase. Property taxes? Yeah. Now that you have had more time to think about it would you vote for or against a 24.5 million dollar bond issue that would tear down the current Junior High and build a new including a new gym that would increase taxes by 357 dollars annual for every 100,000 dollars of property value? I would definitely vote against that. Would you vote for or against a 17 million dollar bond issue to renovate the senior high school, add classrooms, build a new gym that would increase taxes by 229 dollars annually for every 100,000 dollars property value? I would vote against that. Would you vote for or against a 14.5 million dollar bond issue to renovate the Junior high school, add classrooms that would increase taxes by 190 dollars annually for every 100,000 dollars of property value? I would vote against that The school board is currently working to understand voters concerns in the recently failed school bond election. In that election regardless of weather you voted for or against what was your biggest objection to the that bond issue? It was not…. It was way…. It included things that were much …. Un-necessary for the needs of the district. [gym, extra space] And at the same time it didn’t address some of the needs we have had for many years. [AG & Industrial arts shops, paint booth, auditorium] So it included….. It included items that were unnecessary, for instance the size was much larger than what was required. The school board has… well publicly they say they don’t have money, they barely have the money [to operate] and they are making cuts. And then they propose this plan with no way to fund the extra operational expenses so I just tend to not trust the school board and administration at Raymond Central. Ok. Thank-you Do you own your residence? Yes I do Do you have children currently attending Raymond Central Schools? Yes I do Do you have children that are currently optioned into a different public school district? No, I do not Which of these age groups are you in? 18-34, 35-49, 50-64, 65 and up 50-64 Which of these annual household income groups are you in? Under 30,000 30-60,000 over 60,000 30,000 30-60? Yeah May I please have your first name for verification? It’s Eldon, E_L_D_O_N Those are all the questions I have. Thank-you so much for your help. What was your name again? Nancy And the name of your firm? True Vision Research True Vision? Yes OK, thank-you Thank-you so much. Have a good day You too Bye ===================================== copy of the summary of the survey results is attached below
RA_survey_5-08.pdf ===================================== Board looks at survey results RAYMOND - If the Raymond Central Board of Education decides to propose another bond issue, it will likely have to be $14.5 million or less. By Joe Evans Published: Thursday, May 22, 2008 2:00 AM CDT According to recent results from a survey conducted by Research Associates, a business hired by the school district, 49 percent of the 300 people surveyed said they would vote for a $14.5 million bond issue to renovate the junior/senior high school and add classrooms. This would increase taxes by $190 annually for every $100,000 of property valuation. The board hired Research Associates after a $16.1 million bond issue failed last September that proposed a 79,000 square foot addition, renovating the existing buildings and demolishing portions of the facility. "We were commissioned by the board to discover the general common opinion by the district regarding support of a bond issue," Barb Derrick of Research Associates said. The survey began May 7 and was completed May 17. Derrick said 300 surveys were completed with people randomly selected throughout the school district. The survey has a 5.7 percent margin of error. At the board meeting Monday, Derrick went through some of the highlights from the survey. Sixty-nine percent of the 300 people surveyed said they would vote against a $24.5 million bond issue to tear the existing building down and build a new one, which would increase taxes by $357 per $100,000 of property valuation. A similar question was asked whether they would vote for a $17 million bond issue to renovate the building, add classrooms and a new gym that would increase taxes by $229 per $100,000 of property valuation. Fifty percent said they would be against it, while 40 percent would be for it. The remaining percentage was people who did not know. The third dollar amount asked about was a $14.5 million bond issue that would renovate the building and add classrooms, but would not add a new gym. It would add $190 in taxes for every $100,000 of property valuation. Forty-nine percent said they would vote for it, while 41 percent would be against it. The remaining 10 percent did not know. "As you can see by these figures, people had opinions," Derrick said. "There weren't a lot of don't knows." Board member David Grimes asked Derrick how those three dollar amounts were determined. Derrick said they were provided those numbers. Superintendent Gary Oxley added that the dollar amounts were determined by recommendations from the school's architects and fiscal agents. The survey also indicated that 53 percent would prefer to renovate the building, instead of building a new one. Derrick will be at the board's special meeting at 7 p.m., May 28 at the junior/senior high school where the board will discuss the survey results more. Raymond Central hoping survey results useful RAYMOND - Raymond Central Public School officials are hoping recent survey results will translate into a decision whether or not to put a bond issue to vote in September. By Joe Evans Published: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 2:00 AM CDT After having a week and a half to digest the results, board members said the survey would help in the planning of another possible bond issue. "It will be of some help, but it won't give us a blueprint for what to do," Board Vice President David Grimes said. "We'll use it the best we can." Research Associates conducted a survey of 300 people at random within the school district to collect information on what they would be willing to spend to improve the junior-senior high school and what areas need to be improved or added to the building. Board member Tim White said biggest thing he got from the survey was that the district residents want to make improvements, but they do not want to get too far in debt doing so. "I feel a little more optimistic that the district wants to make some improvements, maybe not go hog-wild, but do a little more than conservative," White said. Last September, voters turned down a $16.1 million bond issue that would have renovated the existing junior-senior high school and included a 79,000-square foot addition. In October, the board voted to hire Research Associates for $12,000 to conduct a district survey. The school district is paying $6,000 of the total. Ameritas Investment Corporation, the fiscal agent for the district during the last bond issue, paid the remaining $6,000. Superintendent Gary Oxley said fiscal agents and architectural firms will often help pay for something like a survey to help tell them if a project is worth devoting a great deal of time and effort. White was the only board member who voted against having the survey conducted. "I was against spending $6,000 on it," he said. "I still feel the same. I was still pleased with the survey results, but I just think we could have spent our money another way." White said the reason he feels the same is that the survey mostly reaffirmed what he had heard from people in his ward, that they want to make improvements to the building but not at too high of a cost. The survey showed that 49 percent of the 300 people surveyed would vote for a $14.5 million bond issue. The majority of the people said they would vote against the other dollar amounts included in the survey that were $24.5 million and $17 million. The survey also showed 45 percent of the people thought renovating classrooms was the most important. A new gym, which was proposed with the bond issue that failed last September, only received 2 percent, while items such as updating technology and an auditorium received more support at 8 percent and 6 percent, respectively. "I was surprised that very few people thought we needed a second gym," Grimes said. "I thought that might have been a higher priority." Grimes was surprised because the survey conducted by Research Associates showed 80 percent of the people thought the community was more interested in athletics than the arts. The school board members, along with community members, were expected to discuss the survey results more during a special board meeting Wednesday. Oxley expected that Research Associates to return with a more detailed report of the survey and be able to offer their professional opinion about the results. "The last time they presented it to us, they hadn't had enough time to examine the answers to give us better detail of what they thought the answers met," he said. "One thing we need out of this survey is should we even go ahead with another bond issue." Research Associates presented the survey results at the board's May 19 meeting. The survey was completed on May 17. Grimes said he hoped Wednesday's meeting would have a good turnout of people so they could all brainstorm ideas of what the district could do to improve. "We need to make some improvements to our building," he said. White said it would be important to get more of the families who have lived in the district for a long time involved in the thought process of what the building needs. "We have great teachers and super students and parents, we just need a better facility," he said. In recent meetings the board members have said if they choose to move forward with another proposed bond issue they would like to have a plan in place by no later than June. "We'll get something done, whether it's a remodel and an addition or just a remodel, we have to do something," White said.

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