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Communications firm: staff pay, trust and clear messaging top concerns ahead of any referendum
Summary
Hadley Group told the Beloit School Board that staff and community listening shows pay and retention, trust in leadership, and unclear funding explanations are top issues; the firm recommended clearer bilingual materials and centralized information if the district pursues a referendum.
Lindsey Bridal and Shauna Thayer of the Hadley Group presented results from a two-month listening process and surveys, telling the Beloit School Board on Oct. 25 that staff and community feedback centers on pay and retention, trust in leadership and confusion about funding ahead of possible referendum planning. "We outlined a 4 step process…starting with listening," Bridal said, describing staff and community outreach conducted in August and September.
The communications firm said the staff survey drew 245 responses, about a 37% response rate, and that "70% of the respondents in this survey said that funding limitations from past referendums do affect their day to day," a top staff theme identified by the presenters. The community survey — offered in English and Spanish with accommodations — produced fewer responses but similar themes: concerns about individual tax impacts, a desire for clearer oversight and transparency, and a preference for receiving information by email.
Why it matters: the board has discussed the prospect of a referendum. The Hadley Group framed the listening work as formative: not advocacy or a scientific poll but a directional sample intended to help the district design communications and outreach if a referendum is pursued.
The presenters described methodology and limitations, emphasizing the voluntary, non‑probability nature of the surveys. "They're meant to inform. They are not meant to advocate for or against anything," Bridal said. Thayer summarized staff priorities as pay/retention, student behavior and engagement, and academic support, and she said staff asked to be included earlier in planning committees.
Hadley recommended clearer, centralized materials and bilingual communications and flagged that many respondents reported receiving board information via social media even though the board does not run its own platform. "There's an opportunity there to guide your narrative back to you as the author," the firm told the board.
Next steps: Hadley said it is moving into a proposal phase and will provide targeted suggestions for messaging and audience engagement. Dr. Garrison thanked staff and community members who participated and said there would be additional opportunities for input if the board moves toward referendum planning.
Ending: The board received the Hadley Group's report as an informational presentation; no formal vote or policy decision was taken on the work itself.
