NB schools gearing up for Referendum Campaign 2001 (II)

Posted 9/27/01

NB schools gearing up for Referendum Campaign 2001 (II)

By Jason Sileo

Whether population growth in North Branch is good or bad is a matter of conjecture, but that the debate is supplying a rich dose of adversity for the North Branch schools is not.

ìWe are truly caught between a rock and a hard place,î District Superintendent Dr. Robert Stepaniak said with regard to that issue and in the wake of the North Branch School Boardís decision to seek another building bond referendum in conjunction with Novemberís school board election.

While the district will actually be asking for more money this fall than it did in the spring, as projected construction costs have gone up by about $10 per square foot since that time, district taxpayers would still see a decrease in the school portion of their taxes this year courtesy of the stateís budget formula this time around.

Taxpayers, as the situation now stands, could agree to finance the construction of a new, 1,000-student elementary school in the district and still see a ìsignificantî dip in their tax bill for 2002.

Accurate taxation figures will be made readily available and mailed out by the district in the coming weeks as the referendum campaign is brought up to speed. Stepaniak said the campaign will be a bit ìlower keyî than the May referendum run because of the limited time left available.

This new campaign ìis intended to keep the message as straightforward and as simple as we can,î the superintendent said.

The district will ask again for funds relating to building a new school, and for a financial shot in the arm for district technology and a few small scale building upgrades at existing facilities.
ìEssentially, the needs are the same as they were last spring, although they intensify with each school year,î Stepaniak said.

District officials are concerned about an anti-growth sentiment which stirs daily in North Branch and how it is affecting the referendum effort.

Stepaniak said the schools will continue to remain neutral on the issue:

ìOur job is education,î he said. ìOur job is not to plan city growth and things like that. We play the cards we are dealt.î

Those opposing new growth in North Branch, he said, ìsay that ëbecause youíre not opposed to growth, youíre in favor of it ñ that makes you the enemy,íî he said.

ìWeíve talked about it and weíve decided we are going to stay strictly neutral on this,î he said. ìWeíre part of the community, weíre not running the community. We expect that city government will make those strategic decisions, and we will play our role.î

Stepaniak added that it would be unfair to other neighboring communities ñ such as Stacy or Harris, for example; communities whose children attend school in North Branch ñ if the school district were to be sticking its nose into city affairs in North Branch. Besides that, he said, ìThere arenít enough hours in the day.î

ìThere are some people who simply say, ëwe donít care: since youíre not voicing any opposition to growth, weíre not supporting this new school,íî according to the superintendent. ìSo either way, weíre going to get nailed on this. Itís a no-win situation for the district ñ pure and simple.î

ìIf youíre opposed to growth, one way to achieve your aim is to make schools as unattractive as possible,î he said. ìAnd thatís a strategy that can work.î

Voter ëturnoutí was a rather substantial disappointment for district proponents following the failure of Mayís mail-in referendum ballot, and the district will be pushing for more people, and more parents, to take a part in the decision made this time around. Only about 36 percent of parents of school-aged children voted in May, according to a post-referendum survey conducted by the district.

The lack of parental participation ìstill is a big concern for us,î Stepaniak said. ìWe will try to tell parents that... they should weigh in one way or the other on these questions.î

The post-referendum survey also indicated that most people who voted against the new construction did so due to concerns over the increase in their taxes. But with a reduction in taxes this time around, despite passage of Referendum II, district officials are hoping they have found an appropriate middle ground.
This time, ìthe dollar amount is right in that comfort range that voters expressed to us in May,î Stepaniak said.

If voters decide they favor a larger tax cut over a smaller one and a new school, ìthen we need to prepare to change how we deliver educational services,î he said.

Voter turnout will, as always, be a critical factor in the Nov. 6 election. Four school board seats are to be filled at that time as well, so voters will have a large voice in direction and make up for the district in the coming new year.

ìWe were discouraged by the number of parents who voted in May,î Stepaniak said. ìIf we canít change that, I think it will go down. If the people who favor this donít take the time to turn out, weíre going to be sunk.î

If that happens, students, teachers, administrators and parents can begin expecting to see some radical new changes ñ probably a split shift teaching schedule or year-round schooling ñ in North Branch in the fall of 2003.