Survey to Solicit Community Input for the ECASD

Updated: 1/6/2008

- The Eau Claire school board meets at 7 p.m. Monday in the Board Room of the district's Administration Building, 500 Main St.


Community may get chance at school input District considering survey to determine public's priorities
By Christena T. O'Brien
Leader-Telegram staff O'Brien can be reached at 830-5838, 800-236-7077 or christena.obrien@ecpc.com.
Eau Claire School Board
The Eau Claire school board could decide later this month to move forward with a community survey to gather public input on a number of issues.

Last month, several board members posed the idea of surveying the public after interim Superintendent James Leary presented findings of a needs assessment, which asked more than 80 people, including parents, educators, board members and administrators, to score 60 district priorities. Identifying referendum options for increasing revenue topped the list.

"It would be interesting to see if we were in alignment (with the community)," board member Brent Wogahn said during a Dec. 3 work session.

On Thursday, Leary met with Don Lifto, a former public school superintendent who is senior vice president and client representative with Springsted, an independent public sector advisory firm from St. Paul, to discuss a proposal to conduct a community survey. Leary will discuss the proposal with the board Monday.

Typically, preparing and conducting a survey averages between eight and 12 weeks, Leary said. Because of that time frame, he would like to see the board make a decision at its Jan. 21 meeting.

In a memorandum to the board, Leary estimated the cost of surveying 400 people at $8,338 to $11,213, depending on the number of questions posed to each. In addition, there's a $750 standard fee for consultation, travel, mileage and miscellaneous expenses.

The district would have the option of purchasing additional demographic information.

Before a survey could be completed, questions would have to be formulated. Leary expects some queries would focus on district-community relations.

Mark Porter, W3169 Rim Rock Road, who spoke at a public forum Thursday on the future of Little Red School, suggested the district ask the public if it supports closing more schools.

District officials are projecting a budget shortfall of $2.8 million for the 2008-09 school year. Closing the town of Brunswick elementary school would save an estimated $500,000 annually.

In other business Monday, the board is scheduled to act on motions to ratify three-year contracts with the custodial and food service unions and adopt guidelines for public input at board meetings.