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Board reviews draft community survey to test potential referendum; agrees to test single-court gym option
Summary
School Perceptions presented a draft community survey to help prioritize capital projects and test referendum amounts; the board directed edits and agreed to test the single-court gym option (not the two-court) while clarifying language on cafeteria/4K space.
The Three Lakes School District board reviewed a draft long-range planning survey Aug. 21 and instructed the consultant to revise language before mailing the survey to every residential mailbox in the district.
Scott Gerard, project manager at School Perceptions, said the survey is designed to prioritize community-supported capital projects and estimate what referendum amount voters would accept. The survey packet presents projects grouped by buckets with estimated costs: safety and security $3,200,000; mechanical and electrical systems $9,800,000; building interior $1,100,000; site/exterior $1,400,000; Sugar Camp classroom/support $1,600,000; a 3 Lakes fitness center $1,500,000; artificial turf $1,400,000; and other items. The opening letter in the draft notes a 10-year aggregate of projects exceeding $45,000,000 while the questionnaire tests narrower referendum amounts ($10M, $15M, $20M, $25M) so the district can match priorities with realistic financing.
Board members repeatedly asked that the survey clarify that the referendum questions are informational and not a finalized plan, and that the cover letter explain why the full $45,000,000 needs list differs from the smaller referendum options included in the table. The board also sought clearer language showing whether a gym option would be repurposed to create a cafeteria/multipurpose space and that a 4K classroom is included in the Sugar Camp project descriptions.
On the Sugar Camp options, the board discussed a dedicated cafeteria (estimated $1.9M), a single-court gym plus 4K/classroom (approximately $4.9M total when paired with the 4K addition), and a two-court gym (about $6.9M). After discussion, the board indicated preference to test the single-court gym option in the survey rather than the larger two-court option. Consultants said they will make the requested edits and return the revised draft to district staff by the end of the week.
Scott said the referendum table assumes 20-year borrowing at a 5.25% interest rate; the survey will include tax-impact estimates so the public can see the annual cost implications for the tested referendum amounts.
The board did not set a referendum or take a vote to place items on a ballot; it approved sending an edited survey to the public for input.
