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This is the much talked about and little read JCI survey. Its amazing that this stealth survey which helped justify half of the impetus to take Duluth's voting rights away was presented so sloppily as to be barely readable. Let Duluth Vote spent two hours putting it into order for easy reading. You would think that a corporation that stood to make millions overseeing a $293 million building program would have tried harder to make this crucial evidence more accessible. But then maybe they really didn't want people reading it. Two hours at $25 an hour for a typist could have made this readable at we made it. Is this just one of the many ways we can expect JCI to cut corners? Decision Resources, Ltd.
DULUTH
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OVERALL (N=300) Hello, I'm __________ of
Decision Resources, Ltd., a national survey research firm
located in a random sample of
residents about issues facing public schools in your area.
Even if you do not have children currently in the schools, we are very
interested in your opinions and suggestions.
I want to assure you that
all individual responses will be held strictly confidential;
only summaries of the entire sample will be reported. 1.
Approximately, how many years have LESS THAN TWO YEARS....7% you lived at your current address TWO TO FIVE YEARS.....18% in
11 TO 20 YEARS........26%
21 TO 30 YEARS........11%
OVER THIRTY YEARS.....18%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0% 2.
How would you rate the quality of
EXCELLENT.............12% education provided by the
lent, good, only fair, or poor?
POOR...................2%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....6% I would like to read you
a short list of statements others have told us.
For each one, please tell me whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or
strongly disagree. If you don't
know, just say so.... 3.
During the last couple of years, STRONGLY AGREE.........1% the Administration and Board have
DISAGREE..............34% spent money effectively and
STRONGLY DISAGREE......5% efficiently.
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....21% 4.
Our community receives a good STRONGLY
AGREE.........6% value from its investment in its
AGREE.................68% public schools.
DISAGREE..............17%
STRONGLY DISAGREE......1%
DON'T
KNOW/REFUSED.....9% 5.
The reputation of the
increases home values for resi-
DISAGREE..............21% dents in this district.
STRONGLY DISAGREE......1%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....14% 6.
Duluth Public Schools are a good STRONGLY AGREE.........5% investment and I would support a
AGREE.................55% property tax increase to protect
DISAGREE..............27% that investment.
STRONGLY DISAGREE......5%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....9% 7.
I would recommend Schools to friends.
AGREE.................72%
DISAGREE..............12%
STRONGLY DISAGREE......1%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....5% 8.
The has been honest with residents
AGREE.................43% about the ways in which they spend
DISAGREE..............22% tax money.
STRONGLY DISAGREE......4%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....28% 9.
I'm willing to invest in education STRONGLY AGREE.........6% by paying higher taxes, provided
AGREE.................57% the schools continue to operate
DISAGREE..............22% efficiently and offer high quality STRONGLY
DISAGREE......7% educational programs.
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....8% Moving on.... 10.
How would you rate the job perfor-
EXCELLENT..............1% mance of the District Board -- excellent, good, ONLY
FAIR.............41% only fair, or poor?
POOR...................5%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....13% 11.
How would you rate the job perfor-
EXCELLENT..............3% mance of the Superintendent and
GOOD..................43% District Administration -- excel-
ONLY FAIR.............30% lent, good, only fair, or poor?
POOR...................5%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....19% 12.
And, how would you rate the job EXCELLENT.............20% performance of teachers and in-
GOOD..................60% structional staff -- excellent,
ONLY FAIR..............9% good, only fair, or poor?
POOR...................2%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....10% 13.
How would you rate the financial EXCELLENT..............1% management of the Duluth Public
GOOD..................27% Schools -- excellent, good, only
ONLY FAIR.............46% fair, or poor?
POOR..................13%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....14% Moving on.... 14.
In comparison with neighboring VERY
HIGH.............10% areas, do you consider total pro-
SOMEWHAT HIGH.........39% perty taxes in your community to
ABOUT AVERAGE.........31% be very high, somewhat high, about SOMEWHAT
LOW...........0% average, somewhat low, or very
VERY LOW...............1% low?
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....19% 15.
In comparison with other neighbor-
VERY HIGH..............7% ing school districts, do you think SOMEWHAT
HIGH.........30% that school taxes in the
somewhat high, about average,
VERY LOW...............1% somewhat low, or very low?
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....28% 16.
Which of the following three
STATEMENT A...........17% statements best describes your
STATEMENT B...........66% feelings?
STATEMENT
C...........16% A. I would vote against almost any DON'T
KNOW/REFUSED.....1% tax
increases for the schools; B. I would vote for a tax increase under
some conditions, but against
it under other condi- tions; C. I would vote for almost any tax increases
for the schools. 17.
In general, how informed do you VERY INFORMED.........10% feel about decisions made by the
SOMEWHAT INFORMED.....64% School Board and Administration -- NOT TOO
INFORMED......24% very informed, somewhat informed,
NOT AT ALL INFORMED....3% not too informed, or not at all
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0% informed?
As you may know, the cussing current and
future space needs as well as improvements in its academic programs.
18.
Are you aware of the discussions AWARE.................78% taking place on school district
NOT AWARE.............22% space needs?
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0% IF "AWARE," ASK: (N=234) 19. How
familiar are you with the VERY FAMILIAR.........18% discussions and
reports to SOMEWHAT
FAMILIAR.....75% date - very
familiar, some- NOT TOO
FAMILIAR.......7% what familiar,
not too fami- NOT AT ALL
FAMILIAR....0% liar, not at
all familiar? DON'T
KNOW/REFUSED.....0% As you may know,
enrollment in the Duluth Public Schools declined by 25% during the past 10
years, to today's enrollment of 10,140. This trend will continue
until 2013, when enrollment will stabilize between 9,000
and 9,350 students. From 2013 to
2022, enrollment is projected
to increase modestly and to fluctuate around 9,600 students.
Each of the three
facilities options being considered by the Citizens Task Force and
School Board provides the following: first, reducing the
number of elementary school buildings from buildings from three to
two; fourth, selling the five currently unused facilities closed as a
result of the adopted plan. The key differences, as we will
discuss, focus on the number of high schools and whether to
build new or remodel and expand current buildings. Now, let's focus on one
major difference in the options.... Under the "Blue
Option" or " School would be remodeled
and expanded to accommodate 3,000 students.
remodeled and expanded as
the two middle schools serving the District.
Under the two "Two
High School Alternatives," known as the "Red Option" and
"White Option," the two high schools.
One building would serve the eastern part of the School District while
the other would serve the western part, each housing 1,500
students. 20.
Which option do you support -- the ONE HS/STRONGLY........5% "One High School Alternative" OR
ONE HS.................4% the " (WAIT FOR RESPONSE) Do you feel
TWO HS/STRONGLY.......24% strongly that way?
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....11% IF AN ALTERNATIVE IS SELECTED, ASK: (N=269) 21. Could
you tell me one or two reasons for your decision? ONE HS/MORE
COST EFFECTIVE, 2%; ONE HS/3000
STUDENTS IS TOO MANY,
42%; TWO HS/SMALLER CLASS SIZES,
22%; TWO HS/LESS
BUSING AND TRAVEL, 16%; TWO HS/MORE
EDUCA TIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES, 6%; TWO HS/MORE
SPORTS OPPORTU NITIES, 3%;
ONE HS/UNIFY THE CITY, 4%; ONE
HS/MORE EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES, 2%; SCATTERED, 4%. Now, let's talk about two
variations in the "Two High Schools Alternative." In both variations, upgraded, and expanded
into a high school facility serving 1,500 students in the eastern
part of the District, while East High School would be remodeled
as a middle school to accommodate 1,100 students.
Under the "Red
Option," Under the "White
Option," a new high school would be constructed in the western part of the 22.
Which option do you support -- re- NEW MIDDLE/STRONGLY...25% modeling and expanding the Denfeld NEW MIDDLE
SCHOOL.....32% building to keep it as a high
NEW HIGH SCHOOL........9% school and building a new middle
NEW HIGH SCHOOL/STRONG.1% school OR building a new high
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....32% school facility and repurposing the Denfeld building as a middle school? (WAIT
FOR RESPONSE) Do you feel strongly that way? IF A RESPONSE IS GIVEN, ASK: (N=207) 23. Could
you tell me one or two reasons for your decision?
NEW MIDDLE/MORE COST EFFECTIVE, 12%;
NEW MIDDLE/DEN FELD HAS HIGH
SCHOOL AMENITIES, 21%; NEW HIGH SCHOOL/DENFELD
WILL MAKE A NEW
MIDDLE/DENFELD HAS A TRADITION IN COMMUNITY, 36%; NEW HIGH
SCHOOL/DENFELD IS OUTDATED, 8%; NEW MIDDLE/MONEY
WAS RECENTLY USED TO REMODEL DENFELD, 14%; SCATTERED, 5%. Now, for an overall
judgment.... 24.
Which of the three alternatives do ONE HS/STRONG..........8% you most support -- the "One High ONE HS.................4% School Option," OR the "Two High
TWO HS/KEEP DEN/STR...33% School Option keeping Denfeld as a TWO
HS/KEEP DENFELD...23% high school facility, OR the "Two TWO HS/NEW HS/STR......6% High School Option building a new TWO HS/NEW HS..........4% high school facility in the west- NONE (VOL.)...........10% ern part of the District?"
(WAIT DON'T
KNOW/REFUSED....14% FOR RESPONSE) Do you feel strongly that way? 25.
And, which, if any of the three ONE HS/STRONG.........36% alternatives, do you MOST oppose?
ONE HS................34%
TWO HS/KEEP DEN/STR....4%
TWO HS/KEEP DENFELD....2%
TWO HS/NEW HS/STR......7%
TWO HS/NEW HS..........2%
NONE (VOL.)............9%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....7% Let's consider the tax
implications of these three proposals.... The cost of each proposal
would range between 257 million dollars and 271 million dollars.
But, due to savings and sales of unused property, almost half of
that total is already paid for. In financing the remainder,
the owner of a $125,000 valued home, the average in the District,
would see a property tax increase of between $8.00 and $11.00
per month, or $96.00 to $132.00 per year.
26.
Would you favor or oppose the STRONGLY
FAVOR........18%
finance the new construction and
OPPOSE................19% renovation of school facilities? STRONGLY
OPPOSE........5% (WAIT FOR RESPONSE) Do you feel
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....7% strongly that way? By State law, the
Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Duluth School Districts are allowed to
issue bonds for the new construction or improvement of school
building facilities without holding a referendum election.
In the past, the Duluth School District has held well-publicized public
hearings to discuss plans and their costs, rather than holding referendum
elections. 27.
Does the absence of a bond refer- MUCH
MORE LIKELY.......1% endum election make you more like- SOMEWHAT
MORE LIKELY...5% ly or less likely to support the
NO IMPACT AT ALL......71% issuing of construction bonds, or
SOMEWHAT LESS LIKELY..11% does it have no impact at all?
MUCH LESS LIKELY.......8% (IF "MORE LIKELY" OR "LESS
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....3% LIKELY," ASK:) Is that much (more/ less) likely or only somewhat?
Moving on.... Regardless of the
facilities option adopted, the School District may ask residents for an
additional operating revenue authority of $350.00 per pupil unit to undertake
curriculum and program changes to enhance education opportunities in the new
facilities. This would be an
ADDITIONAL tax increase proposal of $5.00 per month or $60.00 per year on a
$125,000 home. 28.
Would you favor or oppose this STRONGLY
FAVOR........11% operating levy proposal?
(WAIT FAVOR.................47% FOR RESPONSE) Do you feel strongly
OPPOSE................24% that way?
STRONGLY OPPOSE........9%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....9% IF A RESPONSE IS GIVEN, ASK: (N=273) 29. Could
you tell me one or two reasons for your decision?
EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT, 26%;
TAXES ARE TOO HIGH, 22%; COST IS
REASONABLE, 11%; NEEDED FOR
CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMS, 27%;
POOR DISTRICT SPENDING, 4%; NO
NEED/HAVE
ENOUGH MONEY, 5%; NO NEED/CURRICULUM
AND PROGRAMS ARE
FINE, 3%; SCATTERED, 3%. If the Duluth School
District were to hold a bond referendum election this November,
it might also place the operating levy proposal on the same
ballot. Voters would be asked to
vote on two funding questions.... 30.
Which of the following statements
STATEMENT A...........53% best describes your vote?
STATEMENT B...........11% A) I
would vote for both the bond STATEMENT C............3%
referendum proposal and the
STATEMENT D...........23% operating
levy proposal;
NONE (VOL.)............3% B) I
would vote for the bond ref- DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....7%
erendum proposal, but against
the operating levy proposal; C) I
would vote against the bond
referendum proposal, but for
the operating levy proposal; D) I
would vote against both the
bond referendum proposal and
the operating levy proposal. The School District might
make the passage of any bond referendum for school buildings
contingent on the success of the operating levy proposal. In that
way, the funds needed to undertake curriculum and program
changes would be available when the construction is complete. 31.
Would requiring the passage of the MORE LIKELY/STRONGLY..10% operating levy prior to building MORE
LIKELY...........38% any new facilities make you more LESS
LIKELY...........16% or less likely to support the
LESS LIKELY/STRONGLY..12% operating levy? (WAIT FOR RE-
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....21% SPONSE) Do you feel strongly that
NO DIFFERENCE..........5% way? As we discussed earlier,
the cost of each proposal would range between 257 and 271
million dollars. If the School
District bonded for the entire amount, the savings and sales of unused property
can be applied to educational programs, curriculum upgrades, and technology
opportunities. If the full amount
were bonded for, the owner of a $125,000 valued home would see a property tax
increase of between $16.00 and $22.00 per month, or $192.00 to $264.00 per year.
32.
Would you favor or oppose the STRONGLY
FAVOR........10% School District issuing bonds to
FAVOR.................36% finance the full cost of the new
OPPOSE................28% construction and renovation of
STRONGLY OPPOSE.......16% school facilities? (WAIT FOR RE-
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....12% SPONSE) Do you feel strongly that way? IF A RESPONSE IS GIVEN, ASK: (N=265) 33. Could
you tell me one or two reasons for your decision?
EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT, 19%; TAXES
ARE TOO HIGH, 34%; COST IS
REASONABLE, 10%; GOOD FOR THE
COMMUNITY, 4%; USE ADDITIONAL
FUNDING FOR CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMS, 9%; USE ADDITIONAL
FUNDING FOR TECHNOLOGY, 9%; SHOULD
USE FUNDS FROM SALE
OF BUILDINGS TO OFFSET COST TO TAXPAY ERS, 6%;
POOR DISTRICT SPENDING, 6%; SCATTERED,
3%. Changing topics.... I would like to read you
a number of sources of information about the Duluth Public School
District. For each one, please tell
me if you receive a lot of
your information about the school district from that source, some
information, a little information, or none at all?
(ROTATE LIST)
ALT SOM LIT NON DKR 34.
School District newsletter?
19% 20% 8% 54%
0% 35.
The School District's website?
2% 11% 12% 75% 0%
36.
The Duluth daily newspaper?
30% 40% 14% 16% 0%
37. Teachers
in the School District you know?
8% 14% 15% 63% 0% 38.
School District employees other than teachers?
5% 14% 11% 71% 0% 39.
School children, your own or your neighbors?
1% 16% 14% 68% 0% 40.
Informal discussions with neighbors or acquaintances?
8% 39% 24% 29% 0% Now, just a few more
questions for demographic purposes.... 41.
What is your age, please?
18-24..................5%
25-34.................10%
35-44.................24%
45-54.................18%
55-64.................19%
65 AND OVER...........23%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0% 42.
What is the highest level of for- LESS
THAN HS GRADUATE..2% mal education you completed?
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE..26%
VO-TECH/TECH
COLLEGE..10%
SOME COLLEGE..........25%
COLLEGE GRADUATE......27%
POST-GRADUATE..........8%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....2% 43.
Are there infants or pre-schoolers YES...................10% in this household?
NO....................90%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0% 44.
Are there school-aged children in
NO....................77% this household?
(WAIT FOR RE- YES/DULUTH
SD.........20% SPONSE) Do they attend public
YES/ANOTHER SD.........1% schools in this district, public
YES/PAROCHIAL/PRIVATE..1% schools in another district,
YES/CHARTER............1% parochial or private schools,
YES/HOME SCHOOL........0% charter schools, or home school?
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0% IF "NO," ASK: (N=231) 45. Have
you ever had children in YES...................60% the Duluth
Public Schools? NO....................40%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0% 46.
Did you or your spouse/partner, YES...................53% if applicable, attend Duluth
NO....................47% Public Schools?
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0% 47.
Have you or any member of your YES...................24% household participated in any
NO....................76% Duluth School District Community
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0% Education programs or offerings during the past two years? 48.
Which political party do you
REPUBLICAN............23% consider yourself most closely
DEMOCRAT..............47% aligned with?
INDEPENDENT...........21%
GREEN PARTY............1%
SOMETHING ELSE.........0%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....8% 49.
In politics, do you consider your-
VERY CONSERVATIVE......6% self to be (ROTATE) a conserva-
SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE.17% tive, a liberal, or a moderate?
LEAN CONSERVATIVE......4% (IF "CONSERVATIVE" OR
"LIBERAL," MODERATE..............34% ASK:) Do you think of yourself as LEAN LIBERAL..........13% very (conservative/ liberal)?
SOMEWHAT
LIBERAL......11% (IF "MODERATE," ASK:) Do you lean
VERY LIBERAL...........6% closer to conservative or liberal? SOMETHING
ELSE.........0%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....8% 50.
Are you employed by -- a govern- GOV
AGENCY/POLI SUB...15% ment agency or political subdivi- BUSINESS/CORPORATION..35% sion, such as state or local gov- SELF-EMPLOYED..........9% ernment or a school district;
WORK ON FARM...........0% business or corporation; self-
STUDENT................1% employed; work on a farm; student; CURRENTLY
NOT WORKING..8% currently not working, or retired?
RETIRED...............33%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0% Please tell me which of
the following apply to you:
YES NO
DKR 51. Read the newspaper at least 4 to 5 times a week?
64% 36%
0% 52. Listen to talk radio?
55% 45%
0% 53.
Watch television news most evenings?
82% 18%
0% 54.
Surf the internet for news and information at least every week?
47% 53%
0% 55.
Read mail sent to me by interest groups?
41% 58%
1% 56.
Are you currently a member of a YES...................11% civic organization?
NO....................89%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0% 57.
Are you a member of a labor union? YES...................14% (IF "NO," ASK:) Are any other NO/YES................10% members of your household members NO/NO.................75% of a labor union?
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....1% 58.
Do you rent or own your current RENT..................32% residence?
(IF "OWN," ASK:) Is
OWN/UNDER $75,000......1% your home valued under $75,000,
OWN/$75,000-$125,000..14% $75,000-$125,000, $125,001-
OWN/$125,001-$175,000.25% $175,000, or over $175,000?
OWN/OVER $175,000.....23%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....4% 59.
Finally, thinking about your
STATEMENT A............2% household finances, how you would STATEMENT B...........47% describe your financial situation, STATEMENT
C...........33% would you say that --
STATEMENT D...........10% A) Your monthly expenses are ex-
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....7% ceeding
your income; B) You are meeting your monthly expenses
but are putting aside little
or no savings; C) You are managing comfortably while
putting some money aside; D) Managing very well? 60.
Gender
MALE..................49%
FEMALE................51% 61.
High School Attendance Zone
DENFELD...............27%
CENTRAL...............35%
EAST..................38% |
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