Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Survey Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Superintendent highlights community survey feedback and Blue Jay Academy graduation, board to review facilities questions
Summary
Superintendent Robert Lehi summarized a community survey showing concerns about property taxes, declining enrollment and opposition to closing Louis L'Amour Elementary, and spotlighted Blue Jay Academy's 90% retention and full graduation of seniors.
Superintendent Robert Lehi told the Jamestown Public School Board on June 16 that disaggregated results from a community survey showed persistent concerns about property taxes, declining enrollment and an aversion to closing Louis L'Amour Elementary, and he recommended the Facilities Committee study the feedback further.
Lehi said about 631 participants provided survey responses and nearly 1,000 open-ended comments; the dominant themes were concerns about high property taxes, declining enrollment and a desire to maintain existing schools. "Specific opposition to closing Louis L'Amour Elementary" drew a notable volume of comments, he said, and many respondents found it difficult to see efficiency gains from a proposed closure option.
The superintendent noted some comments asked about alternative funding paths, such as a sales tax, but said such an option is no longer available under the North Dakota Century Code. "I think there's a little bit of holdover in terms of why aren't we looking to different measures like sales tax? We saw that a lot of times in the comments," Lehi said while reminding the board that statutory limits constrain some funding avenues.
Lehi also presented a spotlight on Blue Jay Academy, a nontraditional program he praised for retention and outcomes. He said 52 students attended Blue Jay Academy this year, with a 90% retention rate; of those, 24 students reached senior status and all 24 achieved graduation. "That is again very indicative of the great work that is happening in that program," Lehi said, and he recommended the board consider additional spotlights and recognitions to build community awareness of successful programs.
The Facilities Committee will conduct a deeper review of the survey and bring findings back to the board, Lehi said. No board action was taken at Monday's meeting on facility changes; the survey and committee review were presented as background for future discussions.
