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HOW WE GOT HERE

EXPLORATION OF A REFERENDUM 

Following the 2018 Referendum, the district has continued to update the capital improvement plan and include capital projects in its annual operating budget. The number of projects and total cost of those projects coming due exceed the capacity of the annual operating budget.  The district has been planning for a future facilities referendum through strategic facilities and financial planning.

At the September 2023 budget hearing and annual meeting, information was shared regarding the pre-payment of the 2018 Referendum debt to save taxpayers $2.5 million.  Click here for the presentation slides (Slides 9 and 10 illustrate the referendum debt). This debt was anticipated to go through 2038.

For information about the 2018 Referendum, please visit Before the Referendum and Referendum pages under the Facilities Department.

 

MOVING FORWARD

In 2017, an outside firm conducted a thorough assessment of our buildings and grounds, which formed the basis for our long-range facility master planning. The successful 2018 referendum was only the first phase of implementation, and many needs remain throughout our aging buildings. Over the past six years, the district has invested $5.3 million in operational dollars to maintain our buildings and address priority projects. However, many of the needs are too costly to be addressed through the district's operational dollars and require funding through a capital (facilities) referendum. See below for a timeline of our facilities planning. 

 

THE JOURNEY

 

 

 April 2023       
  • A  Community survey through School Perceptions distributed to community members, parents, and staff for feedback Citizens' Advisory Committee was formed to review its facilities needs to bring forward a recommendation to inform any decision for a potential referendum in November 2024

September 2023       
  • Community survey through School Perceptions distributed to community members, parents, and staff for feedback

December 2023       
  • Citizens' Advisory Committee reports their recommendation to the Board of Education 

February 2024       
  • Bray and District representatives provide information during two Focus Group Sessions held February 19 & February 29

March 2024       
  • Bray, Baird, and School Perceptions present potential referendum information to the Board of Education and a mailer informing all residents that a Community Referendum Survey will be sent out at the end of April

April 2024       
  • Community Referendum Survey is sent out to all residents and staff members
  • Bray Architects Presentation: Master Planning Summary 

June 2024       

August 2024       
  • Board of Education would determine if they would go to referendum, what would be included, and dollar amount no later than August 27, 2024 through a resolution 

COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS

The survey conducted in April of 2024 gauged community support for the proposed $79.1 million referendum.