|
Decision Resources, Ltd.
DULUTH
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
3128 Dean Court
RESIDENTIAL SURVEY
Minneapolis
,
Minnesota
55416
FINAL APRIL 2007
OVERALL
(N=300)
Hello, I'm __________ of
Decision Resources, Ltd., a national
survey research firm located in
Minneapolis
. We
are speaking with
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 you lived at your current address in
Duluth
Public
School District
?
LESS THAN TWO YEARS....7%
TWO TO FIVE YEARS.....18%
SIX TO TEN YEARS......20%
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 education provided by the
Duluth
Public
School District
-- excel lent, good, only fair, or poor?
EXCELLENT.............12%
GOOD..................63%
ONLY FAIR.............17%
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,
the
Duluth
Public
School District
Administration and Board have spent money effectively and efficiently.
STRONGLY AGREE.........1%
AGREE.................39%
DISAGREE..............34%
STRONGLY DISAGREE......5%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....21%
4.
Our community receives a good value
from its investment in its public schools.
STRONGLY AGREE.........6%
AGREE.................68%
DISAGREE..............17%
STRONGLY DISAGREE......1%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....9%
5.
The reputation of the
Duluth
Public
School District
schools
increases home values for residents in this district.
STRONGLY AGREE.........5%
AGREE.................59%
DISAGREE..............21%
STRONGLY DISAGREE......1%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....14%
6.
Duluth Public Schools are a good investment and I would support a property
tax increase to protect that investment.
STRONGLY AGREE.........5%
AGREE.................55%
DISAGREE..............27%
STRONGLY DISAGREE......5%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....9%
7.
I would recommend
Duluth
Public Schools to friends.
STRONGLY AGREE.........9%
AGREE.................72%
DISAGREE..............12%
STRONGLY DISAGREE......1%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....5%
8.
The
Duluth
Public
School District has been honest with residents about the ways in which they spend
tax money.
STRONGLY AGREE.........2%
AGREE.................43%
DISAGREE..............22%
STRONGLY DISAGREE......4%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....28%
9.
I'm willing to invest in education by paying higher taxes, provided
the schools continue to operate efficiently and offer high quality educational programs.
STRONGLY AGREE.........6%
AGREE.................57%
DISAGREE..............22%
STRONGLY DISAGREE......7%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....8%
Moving on....
10. How would you rate the job
performance of the
Duluth
Public School
District Board -- excellent, good, only
fair, or poor?
EXCELLENT..............1%
GOOD..................40%
ONLY FAIR.............41%
POOR...................5%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....13%
11.
How would you rate the job performance of the Superintendent and
District Administration -- excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
EXCELLENT..............3%
GOOD..................43%
ONLY FAIR.............30%
POOR...................5%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....19%
12. And, how would you rate the job
performance of teachers and instructional staff -- excellent,
good, only fair, or poor?
EXCELLENT.............20%
GOOD..................60%
ONLY FAIR..............9%
POOR...................2%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....10%
13.
How would you rate the financial management of the Duluth Public
Schools -- excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
EXCELLENT..............1%
GOOD..................27%
ONLY FAIR.............46%
POOR..................13%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....14%
Moving on....
14.
In comparison with neighboring areas,
do you consider total property taxes in your community to
be very high, somewhat high, about average, somewhat low, or very
low?
VERY
HIGH.............10%
SOMEWHAT HIGH.........39%
ABOUT AVERAGE.........31%
SOMEWHAT LOW...........0%
VERY LOW...............1%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....19%
15.
In comparison with other neighboring school districts, do you think
that school taxes in the
Duluth
School District
are very high,
somewhat high, about average,
somewhat low, or very low?
VERY HIGH..............7%
SOMEWHAT HIGH.........30%
ABOUT AVERAGE.........31%
SOMEWHAT LOW...........2%
VERY LOW...............1%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....28%
16.
Which of the following three statements best describes your
feelings?
A. I would vote against
almost any
tax increases for the schools;
B. I would vote for a tax increase
under
some conditions, but
against it under other conditions;
C. I would vote for almost any tax
increases for the schools.
STATEMENT A...........17%
STATEMENT B...........66%
STATEMENT C...........16%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....1%
17.
In general, how informed do you
feel about decisions made by the
School Board and Administration very informed, somewhat informed,
not too informed, or not at all informed?
VERY INFORMED.........10%
SOMEWHAT INFORMED.....64%
NOT TOO INFORMED......24%
NOT AT ALL INFORMED....3%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0%
As you may know, the
Duluth
Public
School District
has been discussing current and future space
needs as well as improvements in its academic programs.
18. Are you aware of the discussions
taking place on school district space needs?
AWARE.................78%
NOT AWARE.............22%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0%
IF "AWARE," ASK: (N=234)
19. How familiar are you with the
discussions and reports todate - very familiar, somewhat familiar, not too familiar,
not at all familiar?
VERY FAMILIAR.........18%
SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR.....75%
NOT TOO FAMILIAR.......7%
NOT AT ALL FAMILIAR....0%
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
eleven to nine
; second, reducing the number of middle schools
from
three to two
; third, reducing the number of administrative
buildings
from three to two; fourth, selling the five currently unused School District
properties and any other school district
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 "One High School Alternative,"
the Duluth School District would have one high school.
Central High School would be remodeled and expanded to accommodate 3,000
students. Denfeld High School and
East High School would be
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 Duluth School District would have
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. Central
High School would be closed.
20. Which option do you support --
the
"One High School
Alternative"
the "Two High School Alternative?"
(WAIT FOR RESPONSE) Do you feel strongly that way?
ONE HS/STRONGLY........5%
OR ONE HS.......................4%
TWO HS............... .............57%
TWO HS/STRONGLY.......24%
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 EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, 6%;
TWO HS/MORE SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES, 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, Ordean Middle School would be remodeled,
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," Denfeld High School would be remodeled and expanded to house 1,500
students, while a new middle school would be constructed in the western part of
the district to accommodate 1,100 students.
Under the "White
Option," a new high school would be constructed in the western part of the
School District to house 1,500 students. Denfeld High School would be
remodeled and expanded as a 1,100 student middle school.
22.
Which option do you support --
remodeling and expanding the Denfeld building to keep it as a high
school and building a new middle school
OR building a new high school facility and repurposing the Denfeld building as a
middle school?
(WAIT FOR RESPONSE) Do
you feel strongly that way?
NEW MIDDLE/STRONGLY...25%
NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL.....32%
NEW HIGH SCHOOL........9%
NEW HIGH SCHOOL/STRONG.1%
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/DENFELD HAS HIGH SCHOOL AMENITIES, 21%;
NEW HIGH
SCHOOL/DENFELD WILL MAKE A BETTER MIDDLE SCHOOL, 4%;
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 you most
support -- the "One High School Option," OR the "Two High
School Option keeping Denfeld as a high
school facility, OR the "Two High
School Option building a new high school facility in the western part of the
District?"
(WAIT FOR RESPONSE) Do you feel strongly that way?
ONE HS/STRONG..........8%
ONE HS.................4%
TWO HS/KEEP DEN/STR...33%
TWO HS/KEEP DENFELD...23%
TWO HS/NEW HS/STR......6%
TWO HS/NEW HS..........4%
NONE (VOL.)...........10%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....14%
25.
And, which, if any of the three
alternatives, do you MOST oppose?
ONE HS/STRONG.........36%
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 nd 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 School District issuing bonds to finance
the new construction and renovation of school facilities? (WAIT
FOR RESPONSE) Do you feel strongly that way?
STRONGLY FAVOR........18%
FAVOR.................51%
OPPOSE................19%
STRONGLY OPPOSE........5%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....7%
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
referendum election make you more likely or less likely to support the
issuing of construction bonds, or does
it have no impact at all? (IF "MORE
LIKELY" OR "LESS LIKELY,"
ASK:) Is that much (more/less) likely or only s
omewhat?
MUCH MORE LIKELY.......1%
SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY...5%
NO
IMPACT AT ALL......71%
SOMEWHAT LESS LIKELY..11%
MUCH LESS LIKELY.......8%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....3%
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 operating levy proposal?
Do you feel strongly that way?
STRONGLY FAVOR........11%
(WAIT
FOR RESPONSE)
FAVOR.................47%
OPPOSE................24%
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
best describes your vote?
A)
I would vote for both the bond
referendum proposal and the operating levy
proposal;
B)
I would vote for the bond referendum 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.
STATEMENT A...........53%
STATEMENT B...........11%
STATEMENT C.............3%
STATEMENT D............23%
NONE (VOL.).................3%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....7%
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
c
onstruction
is complete.
31.
Would requiring the passage of the operating levy prior to building any
new facilities make you more or less likely to support the operating levy?
(WAIT FOR RESPONSE) Do you feel strongly that way?
MORE LIKELY/STRONGLY..10%
MORE LIKELY........................38%
LESS
LIKELY..........................16%
LESS LIKELY/STRONGLY....12%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.......21%
NO DIFFERENCE......................5%
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 School District issuing bonds to finance
the full cost of the new construction and
renovation of school facilities?
(WAIT FOR RESPONSE) Do you feel strongly that way?
STRONGLY FAVOR........10%
FAVOR.................36%
OPPOSE................28
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED....12%
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 TAXPAYERS, 6%;
POOR DISTRICT SPENDING, 6%;
SCATTERED, 3%.
Changing topics....
I would like to read you
a number of sourcthe 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 formal education you completed?
LESS THAN HS GRADUATE..2%
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 in this household?
YES...................10%
NO....................90%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0%
44.
Are there school-aged children in this household?
Do they attend public schools in this district, public schools in another district, parochial or private schools, charter schools, or home school?
(WAIT FOR RESPONSE)
NO....................77%
YES/DULUTH SD.........20%
YES/ANOTHER SD.........1%
YES/PAROCHIAL/PRIVATE..1%
YES/CHARTER............1%
YES/HOME SCHOOL........0%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0%
IF "NO," ASK: (N=231)
45. Have you ever had children in
the Duluth Public Schools?
YES...................60%
NO....................40%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0%
46.
Did you or your spouse/partner, if applicable, attend Duluth Public Schools?
YES...................53%
NO....................47%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0%
47.
Have you or any member of your household participated in any
Duluth School District Community Education
programs or offerings during the past two years?
YES...................24%
NO....................76%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0%
48.
Which political party do you consider
yourself most closely aligned with?
REPUBLICAN............23%
DEMOCRAT..............47%
INDEPENDENT...........21%
GREEN PARTY............1%
SOMETHING ELSE.........0%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....8%
49.
In politics, do you consider yourself to be (ROTATE) a conservative, a
liberal, or a moderate?
(IF "CONSERVATIVE" OR "LIBERAL,"
ASK:) Do you think of yourself as very (conservative/ liberal)?
(IF "MODERATE," ASK:) Do you lean closer to conservative or
liberal?
VERY CONSERVATIVE......6%
SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE.17%
LEAN CONSERVATIVE......4%
MODERATE..............34%
LEAN LIBERAL..........13%
SOMEWHAT LIBERAL......11%
VERY LIBERAL...........6%
SOMETHING ELSE.........0%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....8%
50.
Are you employed by -- a government agency or political subdivision, such
as state or local government or a school district; business or corporation; self
employed; work on a farm; student; currently not working, or retired?
GOV AGENCY/POLI SUB...15%
BUSINESS/CORPORATION..35%
SELF-EMPLOYED..........9%
WORK ON FARM...........0%
STUDENT................1%
CURRENTLY NOT WORKING..8%
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
civic organization?
YES...................11%
NO....................89%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....0%
57.
Are you a member of a labor union?
(IF "NO," ASK:) Are any other
members of your household members
of a labor union?
YES...................14%
NO/YES................10%
NO/NO.................75%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....1%
58.
Do you rent or own your current residence?
(IF "OWN," ASK:)
Is your home valued under $75,000, $75,000-$125,000,
$125,001- $175,000, or over $175,000?
RENT..................32%
OWN/UNDER $75,000.......1%
OWN/$75,000-$125,000...14%
OWN/$125,001-$175,000.25%
OWN/OVER
$175,000.....23%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....4%
59.
Finally, thinking about your household finances, how you would describe
your financial situation, would you say that --
A) Your monthly expenses
are exceeding 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?
STATEMENT A............2%
STATEMENT B...........47%
STATEMENT C...........33%
STATEMENT D...........10%
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED.....7%
60.
Gender
MALE..................49%
FEMALE................51%
61.
High School Attendance Zone
DENFELD...............27%
CENTRAL...............35%
EAST..................38%
| 
