View the CGMS Community Meeting Presentation

Community Meeting Feedback:
With the information you heard from the community survey and demographic report, what are 3 things you would ask the Steering Committee to prioritize in creating a new long range facility plan?

 

Community Questions

Why was the community survey only 500 homes?

• The sample size of 500 was selected so we would have a large enough sample size of voters in the August 2022 election and of school district parents. The margin of error for surveys is not based on the percent of the population sampled, but on the size of the sample.  A 500 sample size in the district or the State of Minnesota is +/-4.5 in 95 out of 100 cases.

What about the new apartment complexes being built in Cottage Grove? Any impacts to school projections and taxes being received from these new complexes? 

• Yes, the current demographic report accounts for all of the apartment complexes planned or under construction as of March 2023. Anything newer than that was not factored into the demographic report.

Will Title I be worked into the plan? 

• Title 1 funding is not included in bonding. Title I funds are used to serve students who are struggling academically at our schools with the highest low-income rates. The district uses these funds to provide additional teachers for math and/or reading interventions at identified schools.

It was presented that there is a current design team to help build a new plan including a construction company. Why are there no RFPs for construction and designs?

• We are using industry experts right now to estimate costs to create the new plan, and give us an idea for what to ask for. If it is successful, there will be RFPs for architectural firms and construction managers, and bids for all of the construction projects.

Were housing expansion areas considered in addition to birth rates? How do those factor in with enrollment projections?

• Our demographer included both population trends and planned housing developments when calculating our demographic projections.

Comments shared during Community Meeting:

• Good points were made by the table that said defining what specifically will happen at the overcrowding levels presented if a referendum doesn’t pass. I also agree with the table that suggested showing what the new boundary lines would be if people “vote no.”
• Thank you for sharing this information and caring about the students you serve.
• Focus building space at East Ridge and changing boundaries.
• Go on an administrative roadshow – City Council meetings, nursing homes, Central Park, etc.
• Create a strategic plan for growth, give sizes for what efficient schools would be… for example– 1,500 students in high schools, 600 in each elementary school.
• SoWashCo Communications should challenge and push back on misinformation.
• Vote at the November election.
• Suggestion: Show the attendance boundary changes and let the community decide if they would rather pay more in a referendum or shift to new schools.

• Stick to the needs. Not the wants for now. Wants can be addressed with stronger economy

• Best spaces for learning with the minimal amount of distractions. This means quiet, calm, disciplined students, with dress codes.

• Better collaboration with the cities to control development and population growth we do not have the infrastructure to support.

• Better transparency in where the funding will come from and accurate depictions of the long-term cost.

• If boundaries fix the problem, then change the boundaries.

• Prioritize needs

• Change boundaries over spending

• Remodel instead of new build

• Change boundaries to help overcrowding

• Purchase land

• Define overcrowding

• Keep taxes low

• Prioritize the most important and give a tiered plan to vote- 1 needs to pass before 2 can pass.

• Gives us the numbers to either add on to East Ridge or build a 4th high school.

• You said projections were done and had to cut millions during pandemic, but now say we are over enrolled so must be saving a lot with large classrooms- it cant be both ways. 

• Snail mail info to SoWashCo homes for people who don't come to meetings.

• Different communication delivery methods that reach different demographics. 

• Boundary Capacity (understanding what schools child will be in) 

• Debunk false info being floated around. i.e. people hearing prop taxes will go ↑ $3K-4K if bond passed. Need to stand up with accurate info.

• Figure out a year round school option to alleviate overcapacity.

• Lean into online learning for high school students.

• FORGET FUNDING FOR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. Focus only on A LITTLE MORE ROOM FOR STUDENTS.

• LEAVE Newport Elementary Alone!

• One-time spending to cut costs ongoing for years. “Passive House” Construction ← grants are available.

• Solar panels- Electric Bus-EV chargers- induction cooktops

• Better ventilation -HERV to reduce germs & disease

• More Communication- Easy to understand info

• Balance students across schools- (unpopular I know!)

• 2 different options for plans. 2 referendums – 1 basic, 1 more advanced. More meetings (info sessions)

View the OMS Community Meeting Presentation

Community Meeting Feedback: Where do these items fit? High Priority? Priority 2? Not yet?

Community Feedback (270 responses)

Staff Feedback (400 responses)

View the ERHS Community Meeting Presentation