Public encouraged to attend listening session Monday
By Tracy Ouellette
Editor
The East Troy Community School District went live with its referendum survey on its website last week.
“Went live on Wednesday, with post cards delivered Thursday and Friday for all community members, to remind residents of survey and directing them to it,” said Superintendent Chris Hibner.
The survey can be accessed at www.ETCSDsurvey.com. Residents wishing to take the survey in paper form can contact Terry Carstens at the District Office, (262) 642-6710, ext. 1221 or Carter@easttroyk12.wi.us.
The survey is open until June 18 and Hibner says the more people who take it, the better the School Board members will be able to make decisions about what to bring to the voters in referendum this fall.
“The feedback we’re getting back from the community will help the board know what the community wants in the next referendum,” he said.
The survey takes about 15 minutes to fill out and contains information about the specific needs of the district and the different options available.
Hibner said it was crucial for the public to know that even though there are four different options presented in the survey, the district is not tied to any one of those options. The survey results are going to tell the board what the community’s priorities are in regards to the buildings and capitol improvements.
“That’s why the final page is so critical,” said Hibner. “They have to prioritize four main points to give the board an idea where the people’s priorities are; what they will support.”
Hibner has said repeatedly over the last several months that the district needs to stay competitive in the education market or the decline in enrollment in the district will continue, causing even higher budget deficits. One of the ways to compete, said Hibner, is to offer 21st century learning spaces, something that Doubek Elementary School, in particular, has difficulty doing in its outdated facility.
The High School also needs upgrades to its learning spaces to accommodate advances in technology and make room for workforce development classes, among other things.
There are also parking and/or safety upgrades needed at all the buildings, which the staff felt were at the top of the list when the board asked for their input earlier this year.
Listening session
The School Board is holding another referendum listen session Monday at 6 p.m. in the High School library.
Residents wishing to ask questions about the referendum and have their opinions heard are encouraged to attend.
The School Board will hold its regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday.
