Central SD 13J schedules special meeting after polling shows narrow support for possible bond

The Central School District 13J Board of Directors voted unanimously to hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 to consider a resolution and ballot title for a potential general obligation bond, board members said at their Aug. 5 regular meeting. The meeting follows months of outreach by a facilities committee and a July tracking poll by consulting firm Funk Levis and Associates that found narrow initial support that rose after voters were given cost information.

The polling and outreach work matter because the district says the bond would address building repairs, safety, overcrowding and other infrastructure needs across district schools and could qualify for a state match. "Bad is good in this one," Anne Marie, a consultant with Funk Levis and Associates, told the board, summarizing how voters who view school facilities as needing work are more likely to support a bond. She said the firm surveyed 400 likely November voters (±5% margin) and that initial support started about 51% and rose when respondents were given a clear cost example.

The facilities committee has run community outreach events, produced videos and flyers, and encouraged residents to review information online. "We've really been pushing the idea of the QR code and directing people to the videos," Steve Love, chair of the Central School District 13J Facilities Committee, told the board. Love described summer tabling at local events and school tours as a way to build awareness ahead of any ballot measure.

What the poll found and what that means - Methodology: Funk Levis' July tracking poll interviewed 400 likely voters (cell and landline mix), margin of error about ±5 percentage points. The firm emphasized it tracked a subset of prior questions…