Arrowhead board leans toward community survey to test support for $79 million consolidation plan

The Arrowhead UHS School District board on Monday discussed commissioning a short, focused community survey to measure voter appetite for a roughly $79 million capital referendum and to test support for phasing out new non‑resident student enrollments.

Board members and a consultant from School Perceptions framed the survey as both an educational tool and a predictive measure of public support that could let the board decide whether to pursue a February 2027 referendum. “If the taxpayer said yes and you say I want to represent the taxpayers and I'll do that,” one board member said, summarizing the view that survey results should guide next steps.

Why it matters: the $79 million plan is built on a scenario that would reduce the district’s non‑resident student population so remaining students and staff could be consolidated under a single renovated North Campus and a new academic wing. The recap of a prior facilities workshop cited maintenance estimates and fiscal pressure: speakers said earlier studies showed about $54 million in maintenance needs over 10 years and numbers north of $140 million over 25 years if two buildings are maintained.

Bill Foster of School Perceptions told the board a brief survey launched in mid‑September and closed in early October would provide usable data in time to meet election deadlines for a February referendum. Foster recommended a simple, illustrated question presenting the $79 million option with a clear tax‑impact figure and a follow‑up asking why respondents opposed or supported the ask. He said his firm weights responses by parents, staff and non‑parent residents to make samples predictive and that, in his experience, similar surveys have been about “93% predictive” of referendum results.

Board members debated whether another paid survey was necessary. One board member said the board and administration have spent years on the facilities work and that ‘‘the circumstances for me have really changed — I don't see the need for School Perceptions right now.’’ Others countered that a well‑designed survey would let the board pivot quickly if the community rejected the $79 million option and would provide clearer guidance for family planning if open enrollment were to be phased out after the 2027–28 school year.

The discussion also covered outreach strategy beyond the survey. Members asked that any questionnaire include simple graphics showing what would be renovated and what would remain unchanged, and they discussed pairing the survey with mailed educational pieces or town halls targeted at less digitally engaged residents. The board noted typical survey response rates in prior efforts were in the high‑teens (around 17–20%), with several thousand responses in past projects.

Next steps: the board asked the consultant to return with draft survey questions for the June 16 finance and building‑and‑grounds committee meeting and designated a staff contact (Conrad) to coordinate. The board also requested tax‑impact calculations for the $79 million scenario. No formal motion or vote occurred at the session.

The board closed the workshop after confirming the survey drafting timeline and communication strategy; staff will report back with draft language at the committee meeting scheduled for mid‑June.