Consultants report community support for medium funding level; recommend removing fieldhouse from high option

Ed Sullivan, a consultant leading the district’s community engagement process, told the Ball Chatham CUSD 5 Board of Education on Oct. 22 that phase‑2 outreach produced 821 responses overall and that a scientific phone survey of 501 residents showed a consistent set of priorities: safety and security, infrastructure and mechanicals.

“We are in a second phase, the end of the second phase of a 4 phase process to listen, to listen to the community and to gather their, their input,” Sullivan said. He reported that the community committee, public engagement attendees, and the phone survey all ranked safety and security, infrastructure and mechanicals among the top priorities.

Sullivan summarized favorability (support/opposition) and ranked priorities. He said overall district favorability was high, with a stated net favorability around 70%, and that 84% of respondents supported additional funding at some level. The consultant presented three funding scenarios: a tax‑neutral, low option at $83 million; a medium option at $120 million (the most preferred); and a high option at $165 million. Sullivan said the medium option carried a roughly $200-per-year tax impact on an owner of a $250,000 house in the district and the high option about $445 per year.

Sullivan said athletic- and field-house projects ranked lowest in favorability and that the fieldhouse item had a $45 million price tag in the high option. “Based on the lack of support for the field house … it would be our recommendation to take out the field house,” he said, noting that removing it would reduce the high funding level and increase the likelihood of broader public support.

Board leadership and administration discussed how phase 3 will translate community priorities into concrete options and ballot language. Superintendent Dr. Lehi told members the district is proposing three options for the public to compare: the tax‑neutral $83 million plan, an intermediate $100 million plan (to be modeled) and the $120 million plan as a revised high option if the board removes the fieldhouse from consideration. The board and consultants said phase 3 will return to the public with specific project lists tied to each funding level and with tax‑impact information for an average home.

Sullivan recommended that safety, infrastructure and mechanical upgrades be included in all options; additional priorities such as classroom furniture refresh, programming space, sidewalks and parking would be included as funding levels increased. He said the district could proceed to a March ballot if the board wants to move quickly, subject to final option design and board direction.

No referendum question or bond sale was approved at the meeting; the consultant’s findings and the recommended approach will inform the next public options and the board’s decision about timing and the ballot question.