Board reviews draft community survey for possible funding referendum, prioritizes safety and asks for more precise tax numbers

Fond du Lac — The Board of Education spent more than an hour on Oct. 5 reviewing a draft community survey that would gauge support for a possible referendum to address a projected multi‑year operating shortfall and funding priorities such as high‑school security upgrades and reducing class sizes.

The draft survey, prepared by consultant Bill Foster of School Perceptions, asks whether voters would support a roughly $6 million operational referendum (spread over four years in the draft) to maintain academic programs and class sizes, preserve mental‑health services, and pay for building maintenance. Foster told trustees, “Survey can’t be a marketing tool,” and urged brevity and clear, factual wording so the results reflect community priorities rather than persuasion.

Why it matters: Board members said the district faces a structural funding gap because state aid and revenue limits have not kept pace with inflation and because enrollment has declined. Trustees said the survey will shape whether the district pursues an operational referendum, a capital referendum (bonding) or a different mix of projects — and which specific projects taxpayers would support.

Most important facts - Consultant recommendation and format: Foster recommended a short, mail‑and‑web survey (8 panels printed front/back) with an FAQ to hold more technical detail. He warned each additional 100 words in a survey can reduce response rate about 1 percentage point and recommended a target length of roughly 1,400–1,800 words. - Two draft funding approaches discussed: (1) a single “base plan” operational ask the board proposes (roughly $6 million over four years in the draft) with yes/no support; or (2) a bucketized/tax‑tolerance approach that presents multiple project “buckets” (for example, safety,…