Most Ontario teachers backed bond effort
Sunday, June 4, 2006 2:57 AM PDT
JESSICA KELLER
ARGUS OBSERVER
ONTARIO
In general, Ontario School District teachers supported the $30 million school bond venture voters scuttled last November.
Elementary and secondary education staff in the school district returned 199 responses for the bond survey generated by district officials to measure public support, or lack of, for the high school bond effort.
At the secondary school level, 64 staff members voted in favor of the bond election, 11 voted no, and 35 did not vote. At the elementary school level, 35 staff members voted in favor, 14 were opposed and 40 did not vote.
“It was pleasing to know the people who ‘walk the walk' thought we needed to upgrade the physical plant,” Ontario School Board member John Phillips said at the school board meeting in May.
Ontario School District Superintendent Dennis Carter said at the bond election's conclusion, school board members heard a large number of teachers did not vote in favor of the bond election. District officials wanted to know why that was, so staff was included in the survey campaign.
Carter said every staff member was asked to complete a survey, even if they did not vote because they do not live within the school district and were not eligible.
Carter said those who did not vote were asked to fill a survey out as if they had, to gauge what their support was as well. Those who completed the survey were also allowed to fill out as many options that they agreed with in each of the categories.
Carter said it appears, teachers voted more in favor than what the rumors alluded to after the bond election.
“I, in general, think that teachers might vote closer to the general public than they did on this issue,” he said.
At the secondary school level, of those who either voted in favor or would have voted in favor of the bond, 73 said they supported the bond because they believe the current high school facilities are outdated and inadequate; 48 believed the students needed more space; 44 liked the idea of moving the middle school to the old high school site following renovation; and 43 believed students could be better served if everything were in one location.
Of those who did not support the bond at the secondary school level, 10 did not like the proposed location for the new high school; seven believed the cost was too high; four could not afford increased taxes; three did not believe there was a need; and two said they did not have sufficient information to make a good decision.
At the elementary school level, for those who voted in favor, 57 agreed the students needed more space; 36 believed the current high school facilities are outdated and inadequate; 24 liked the idea of moving the middle school to the old high school site; and 21 believed students could be better served if everything were in one location. Of those who voted “no” or would have voted “no” at the elementary level, 16 did not like the proposed location, 14 believed the cost was too high, 10 did not believe there was a need for a new high school; seven could not afford the increased taxes and six said they did not have sufficient information to make a good decision. The school board will likely discuss the survey results again before making any decision on where to go from this point, Carter said.
