The CUSD #4 Board of Education hosted a district-wide Community Night on Wednesday, September 10th. There were approximately 80 community members, parents, staff, Board members, and even students. The information that follows is a summary of the 4 discussion questions and a summary of the feedback provided.
Question 1:
Would you rather reduce the district’s deficit by a) increasing property taxes, b) cutting spending, or c) both increasing property taxes and cutting spending?
Feedback on Q1:
Below are the number of cards turned in with each response:
A) Increasing Property Taxes: 1
B) Cutting Spending: 14
C) Both Increasing Property Taxes and Cutting Spending: 39
Question 2:
What feedback do you have regarding cutting programs?
Feedback on Q2:
Below are the number of cards turned in with each response:
*Don’t Cut CoCurriculars or ExtraCurriculars: 33
* Cut Some CoCurriculars or ExtraCurriculars: 12
* Cut All CoCurriculars or ExtraCurriculars: 0
* Other:
* Charge User Fees for CoCurriculars and Extracurriculars: 4
* Cut ExtraCurricular Transportation: 2
* Change to More Online Classes / Share Teachers With Other Districts: 2
Question 3:
What feedback do you have regarding the potential closing of Greenfield?
Feedback on Q3:
Positives of Closing Greenfield
* Less transportation costs.
* Significant cost savings of over $300,000.
* More time for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students to be in classroom learning (21.8 days!).
* This is the only chance to close the building when no one will lose a job.
Negatives of Closing Greenfield
* K & 1st grade class sizes would be big. What if those class sizes grow?
* 4th grade students are very young to be at the middle school.
* Expensive HVAC upgrades at Greenfield seem to be wasted.
* ME would be crowded. Where would the library be?
Question 4:
Based on what you know and have heard tonight, what solution do you propose to balance the $500,000 deficit?
Feedback on Q4:
* 48 cards had closing Greenfield as part of the suggested action.
* 7 cards had responses that did not include closing Greenfield.
Would you rather reduce the district’s deficit by a) increasing property taxes, b) cutting spending, or c) both increasing property taxes and cutting spending?
Feedback on Q1:
Below are the number of cards turned in with each response:
A) Increasing Property Taxes: 1
B) Cutting Spending: 14
C) Both Increasing Property Taxes and Cutting Spending: 39
Question 2:
What feedback do you have regarding cutting programs?
Feedback on Q2:
Below are the number of cards turned in with each response:
*Don’t Cut CoCurriculars or ExtraCurriculars: 33
* Cut Some CoCurriculars or ExtraCurriculars: 12
* Cut All CoCurriculars or ExtraCurriculars: 0
* Other:
* Charge User Fees for CoCurriculars and Extracurriculars: 4
* Cut ExtraCurricular Transportation: 2
* Change to More Online Classes / Share Teachers With Other Districts: 2
Question 3:
What feedback do you have regarding the potential closing of Greenfield?
Feedback on Q3:
Positives of Closing Greenfield
* Less transportation costs.
* Significant cost savings of over $300,000.
* More time for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students to be in classroom learning (21.8 days!).
* This is the only chance to close the building when no one will lose a job.
Negatives of Closing Greenfield
* K & 1st grade class sizes would be big. What if those class sizes grow?
* 4th grade students are very young to be at the middle school.
* Expensive HVAC upgrades at Greenfield seem to be wasted.
* ME would be crowded. Where would the library be?
Question 4:
Based on what you know and have heard tonight, what solution do you propose to balance the $500,000 deficit?
Feedback on Q4:
* 48 cards had closing Greenfield as part of the suggested action.
* 7 cards had responses that did not include closing Greenfield.