FeedsFirm tells schools: next time, try harder
It wasn’t the economy, stupid.
That’s the opinion of Lansing pollster Ed Sarpolus, who presented the results of a survey aimed to figure out why voters turned down two bond proposals from Plymouth-Canton Community Schools in May.
“They would love to say ‘Yes’ to everything that you request of them,” Sarpolus told the district board of education on Tuesday. “They weren’t really against anything, it’s just that your community is at a point right now where they have a visual perception of what they believe the priorities are in the school district.”
Research company EPIC-MRA randomly surveyed 352 voters by telephone in July to determine what those priorities are. The board of education will use that newfound knowledge to determine whether to float another bond proposal.
Earlier this year voters rejected two separate bond proposals that, if approved, would have increased taxes to build a new middle school, a new career and technical center, a new high school theater and pool, as well as to remodel several existing buildings, among other improvements.
In the survey, 46 percent of respondents who said they voted “no” on one or both proposals said they did so “mostly because of what the money would be spent for.”
Sarpolus said the district needs to present a proposal that is in line with voter interests, then do a better job of educating them.
“You’re doing your job of maintaining (buildings) to the best that you can, but (on) the same token it hurt you with the voters because they think everything is OK,” he said.
The pool, athletic improvements and theater should not be included on future proposals, residents said in the survey. When asked to put aside how they would vote on any future bond proposal, 63 percent of respondents said they would support a new middle school in Canton with a capacity of 1,000 students between Canton Center and Beck roads. Sixty eight percent said they would support improvements at existing elementary schools to address overcrowding, and 71 percent said they would support the purchase of ten new busses.
Still, when educated on the items and asked if they would vote yes or no on a $120 million bond proposal, only 50 percent said they would vote yes. Voters were more likely to support a scaled back proposal of $65 million, with 67 percent saying they would vote yes.
Board of Education President Barry Simescu said the trustees would meet Tuesday to begin workshops on the results.
The survey and analysis of the data cost about $18,000. Complete results are available on the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools website, http://www.pccs.k12.mi.us.
