Mount Prospect school survey finds some support for tax increase
A Mount Prospect Elementary District 57 community survey found some support for exploring a referendum to better fund schools, with 63 percent of school parents and 42 percent of non-parents agreeing.
There was considerably less support for considering referendums to add classrooms and staff for full-day kindergarten, which more districts are beginning to offer, with about 44 percent of parents and 33 percent of non-parents on board with the idea.
The questions were preceded by a chart showing the district's per pupil expenditures were $10,270 in the 2013-14 school year, the lowest of the adjacent districts. The next lowest district was Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 at $12,604, and the highest was River Trails Elementary District 26 at $16,017.
The last time the district's board considered holding a referendum to seek a tax increase was in 2011, but it decided against the move, in part because of the tough economic times of district residents. At the time, school officials said reserve levels had fallen from nearly 70 percent of expenses in 2008 to about 50 percent due to deficit spending, and the district had laid off 25 employees and hiked fees for programs to balance its budget.
Superintendent Elaine Aumiller said in an email that the board is always monitoring its financial resources.
"At this time, the board is not actively pursuing a referendum, but it is an ongoing conversation as our fund balances decrease," she said.
The school satisfaction survey, by School Perceptions LLC, is done every two years as part of the district's strategic plan to help administrators and board members know how its services rate. It cost about $16,000.
The survey results were presented to the board at its Thursday meeting. It generated a 17 percent response rate through online and written participation. There were 1,418 respondents and it has an accuracy margin of 2.7 percent plus or minus, according to School Perceptions. There's a link to the survey on the district website, www.d57.org.
Among other findings in the survey:
• There isn't much support for replacing Lincoln Middle School, with 38 percent of parents and 40 percent of non-parents suggesting continuing to invest in the existing building, while 28 percent of parents and 22 percent of non-parents think the district should build new. • 86 percent of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with the district.
• 91 percent agree or strongly agree that they would recommend the district to a friend moving into the area.
• Among non-parents, 41 percent rely on the Daily Herald for information about the district. The district's e-newsletter was the next preferred source, favored by 32 percent of respondents. Among parents, 67 percent prefer the superintendent's message, with teacher's newsletters ranking next at 52 percent.