COMMUNITY
LISTENING SESSIONS

QUESTION #1: WHAT DID YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE FACILITY PLANS PRESENTED IN PREVIOUS BOND REFERENDUMS?

• There was not anything that I liked in the past due to the lack of transparency.

• Would have voted for the last one if it would not have included the athletic fields. 

• The academic updates that are necessary

• Closing the primary building

• Closing the primary school is a must; outdated facilities, security, safety

• A new baseball/softball field; the only facility that hasn’t been upgraded; outgrown it

• Having this problem is a good problem; our community is growing; the district is looking out what is best for our kids and the district

• New tennis courts proposal in 2021

• The communication the district leveraged in previous proposals; keeping the community aware

• Each attempt has been adjusted in response to community

• New high school is desired - more space 

• Information shared with the community seems to improve each time (visibility)

• District bond information shared at Comm Conn.

• I liked the focus of the high school

• I liked the addition of the high school and closing the primary that has aging infrastructure

• I like addressing the 21st century skills needs in our facilities

• I like addressing the crowding in the schools 

• I liked providing good facilities that can be used for sports or other extracurricular activities

• I liked that the primary building was slated to be replaced

• That the primary building would be addressed

• The crowding issue would be addressed in the high school

• That the science and culinary arts would be addressed

• Early plans were all-encompassing addressing concerns for all age groups for the foreseeable future. Included all areas of education K-12

• Addressed needs for all extra-curricular activities

• Keeping up on technology  

• Focus on Primary Building

• Sports complex moved out to the edge of town

• Handling space needs for all schools

• Getting the 3A gym at the high school

• Removing Primary Building - aged

• Bringing a 21st century learning spaces

• Culinary/Industrial arts/welding/technical programs (CTE) space

• Keeping k-8 in the central campus and move high school out

• If you are going to do it, do it right. New school and athletic facilities - However, if school and athletics need to be separated to pass a new building, then do it. Look into private funding for athletics

• Make it big enough to support future growth

• Community can/should be built around a good school district. Good facilities can lead towards an all around better community

• Athletics are important in this community and to this school. Better athletics drives an all around better community. School pride. High number of kids are in athletics. Also, non-athletic activities benefit from sports complexes (e.g. weight room, locker rooms, band practice, PE class, concerts, banquets, graduation ceremonies)

• Liked the closing of the current Primary Building and a new High School being built and shifting students.

• Support the sport facilities as well. Baseball and softball facilities and need replaced. Need tennis courts.

• Sports are important and carry many more life lessons in shaping good human beings than just what they learn from the sport.

• Attention to trades such as welding, family consumer sciences, health careers

• Sports facility - hosting state tournaments, locker rooms for visitors to utilize, high school could have better fields, courts, etc and middle school could also have better (especially the field behind the middle school)

• Fine Arts - larger theater, band, choir rehearsal spaced

• Parking - currently small lots, people park on streets

• Increased safety with office staff being able to see who is entering the building better

• It allowed the expansion into a new high school and the elimination of a primary building which is in shambles.

• Visual aids

• Open 3-5 building

• All encompassing, included all schools and concerns

• Tried to address all the concerns

• Did not seem like a “bandaid” approach

• Not incredibly lavish either

• Comparable to IA, 2A schools - not the 3/4A districts we are matched with

• High school and sports complex with other building upgrades

• Correct facts about student enrollment - growth of our District was explained

• The cost/tax increase was explained

• The concern for health issues in the Primary Building was explained

• Traffic issues were explained

• Like the ideas presented over the course of the bonds

• New school is going in a location that would be easy to get to

• Newer technology would help kids stay up to date and be able to continue to compete

• At the time of all of this it was a vetted idea from the board and community to have a bond issue.

• That there were so many different ones… that they followed each bond issue by listening to what people said and made the changes people had asked for – and people still voted no.

• For 2015 & since then, there was printed information sharing what the plans were. 

• Appreciated that they have been trying to get input from difference constituencies and really listen to what people have wanted

• Either not here or nobody ever saw a complete plan

• Overall dream of what it could be

• Land is already paid for

• Sports focus

• Get rid of primary building

• Plan for new high school to engage all kids - culinary, band, show choir

• Primary building needs replaced

• High school and athletic complex in same place

• Need more space in all buildings

• Parking would have been increased

• Focus on trades….welding/culinary/etc

• They were updated facilities.

• Expand the scholastic side in addition to athletics.

• Nothing.

• They were outdated so it would have made our schools more competitive with surrounding schools.

• The High School + sports complex package was the best because it met all needs at the time with no future needs left out.

• New high school was better than the new primary because it addressed primary needs and HS size issues.

• Upgraded sports facilities 

• New High school, shift other grades to other buildings 

• Separating placement of buildings so the schools aren’t in one area

QUESTION #2: WHAT WERE YOUR GREATEST CONCERNS ABOUT THE FACILITY PLANS PRESENTED IN THE PREVIOUS BOND REFERENDUMS?

• Transparency

• Property taxes

• Open enrollment issues - 336 open enrolled in

• Not including the athletic fields in some of the proposals

• Not being well-informed on the 2021 proposal; people felt like they weren’t aware of the bond proposal in 2021

• Generational differences in what is wanted v. needed

• Full transparency about plans and finances - “If we do this….this may happen…”

• Consider what has been done in the last 20 years (tax implication) and what does the next 20 years look likeI felt the plans were very extensive and reached too far into the future

• I didn’t understand the lack of vision going from a high school to an elementary school

• I don’t think there has been a clear overall vision of how all district facilities will work together 

• I didn’t like the remodel of the middle school into a primary school, felt it would be better to move the 3-5 building there and then make the 3-5 building the primary building

• I was very opposed to the increased traffic on Port Neal road and that it limited access to the fire station at multiple times of the day

• Some felt like putting a band-aid on the issue

• Moving and rebuilding the football stadium made no sense

• Didn’t seem that the current community athletic facilities were truly explored as an option rather than building new facilities at great expense and a distant location.

• Lack of communication about the need for all these new facilities and the cost.

• Significant tax increase wasn’t communicated in terms of percent tax increase

• The district didn’t clearly communicate what the overall goal is.

• Plans were compromised to pacify the nay-sayers in the community rather than stand up for what the school/students/community needed.

• Getting the correct facility for the cost.  No clear path on what was really going to be developed. (Here are the numbers).  Confusion from NO path

• Some didn’t handle all of our issues or needs - tried to “just pass something”

• Not always appeared to be transparent - hid information

• Seemed like the last attempt had the answer in hand before

• Some of the costs seemed high with little details on what the money would get us

• Did not tailor the cost to the average homeowner

• Had an energized no vote crew that spread propaganda

• Misinformation - Sometimes not sure of what the full plan was

• Always “No” group strong showing for votes and campaign well

• Yes ground not showing up for votes

• Teachers and people connected to the school can have a large impact. Need them to step up and be part

• The 2021 bond issue was inadequate. Didn’t ask for what was needed and kicked the can down the road as far as building size needs.

• The 2019 didn’t address the high school at all.

• Financial impact to homeowners

• Every year the basic building costs increase

• Misinformation, rumors - those that voted no, did not know all the concerns addressed

• Felt like desperation led the reduction of plans each referendum

• Abatements

• The perception of the athletic complex not being a necessity.

• Leaving out non-athletes we need more room

• (Names omitted) will never vote for a bond issue, very vocal with misinformation. Hearing and feeling that someone is “pulling a fast one”, people just listen to misinformation.

• The 5th bond seemed to be thrown together to give people what they want, but not the best solution for the district

• Not enough concrete data given - how much DOES it cost to educate our students?

• How much DOES it cost to bring in open enrollment?

• The District may need to educate that the “NOs” can say what they want and the “yes” people have to spend time and energy to contradict the misinformation

• No upgrades to primary building - wasted money

• We all want to see everything get done now

• Education was not our #1 concern

• Misinformation was given out in the community

• Set-up a $0.1 sales tax “fund” for Sgt Bluff to generate money to support future buildings

• Not being well informed

• Lack of communication - I.e. fliers, website, facebook page, etc..

• The current cost of a new building and facilities now that we are 17 years later

• The no vote was a lot louder than the positive vote

• What are the tax availability from our bigger businesses like CF/AGP/Gelita

• Educate what the plan is and get that information out

• Don’t want to lose the school which means we lose the community

• Lack of knowledge of individuals who are helping present information out in the community

• In 2019 concerned that what was offered wasn’t REALLY what was needed…but it was like a band-aid with a lower price tag. It would have only addressed PART of the problem. 

• That we HAVE to do something. We have been trying to do this for many years and we can’t NOT address the issue. We have to address the HVAC & other issues in the primary.

• The way in which there has been false information shared by some groups (flyers in the mail, people who have shared false facts, etc.) and the way in which that has created conflicting messages–hard to know what’s true.

• The way in which these meetings may STILL not be addressing the issues of those who are against the bond issue. (It seems like most of the people who would come to these meetings are either impartial, want to get more information, or are in favor of new schools.)

• Not knowing soil condition

• Sports focused 

• Raising taxes

• Raising taxes again later

• Not all school functions and facilities in one location

• No detailed plans

• What will happen to existing buildings

• No tours of facilities for the parents  to see all buildings.

• Not addressing all of the needs

• Transparency in process

• The ‘fake news’ that went out misleading people

• The primary building alone was just a bandaid. The whole district needs updating.

• The new high school with sports complex was a positive for our group but needs to promote education/fine arts

• Is overcrowding driving this - does open enrollment cause this?

• How many years would this new plan take us down the road?

• Traffic, bus routes if schools are separated

• Remodel was just a bandaid.

• Primary only didn’t address size issues in other schools.

• Not doing sports complex just kicks the can down the road.

• Money, Tax increase for those without kids or kids in school.

• Too short  sided – Not everyone was included.

• “Sports only” mindset, not enough talk about other program benefits, needs to be addressed

QUESTION #3: WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACILITY RELATED ISSUES FACING SBL SCHOOLS?

• Family and Consumer Sciences

• Industrial Tech Issues

• Science Classroom Updates

• Baseball and Softball Field drainage and facility issues

• security/safety of the kids at all schools

• Size

• Outdated baseball fields

• Parking is a disaster at school activities

• Already outgrown the available space (capacity) - many students without lockers - The district is not getting smaller: apartments, housing, housing by Old Lakeport

• Primary building - $$$$ for repairs versus investing in new building 

• Limited parking at Elementary building when it also serves as the ‘hub’ for district athletic events

• Pick up/drop off logistics are difficult

• What is long term plan for all 4 current buildings; how are sports facilities factored in?

• Different perspective to consider - where is consistent/full time summer care for the kids in the district?  If the school has a summer program, could that also be a source of additional revenue while also providing families a much-needed service?

• What is being considered for class space for career/21st century skills

• Aging infrastructure of the primary building

• Overcrowding 

• Town growth

• Aging and antiquated locker rooms

• Softball and baseball fields need to move to allow for parking and they need appropriate restrooms

• Lack of tennis courts

• Not all classrooms are built adequate for the subjects being taught in them (specialty and CTE classes)

• Primary building in general

• Career tech is severely lacking

• Traffic patterns are very dangerous at beginning and end of the day

• Schools were designed for 50% of current capacity, we are sacrificing educational programs and learning opportunities.

• Not adequate facilities for music/theater, trade prep

• Primary School end of date.  

• Space needs for updates

• Technology,  not having proper tools for development

• Up to date and adequate high school educational spaces

• Growing population of the community and size of buildings

• Size of high school competitive gym and the auditorium too small

• Primary space out dated and broken up into wings

• School size

• Outdated classrooms/technologies/facilities. Need to modernize facilities to offer more classes/activities

• Outdated athletic facilities. Small locker rooms. Disconnected and older weight room. Students go to a number of different locations for athletics

• Logistics for picking up and dropping of kids from school

• Primary school is past end of useful life and needs to be closed.

• Class sizes are bigger than the buildings can accommodate.

• High school was built for classes and education programming at that time, which is now outdated.  

• Parking is inadequate at all facilities, especially during activities.

• Seating is very crowded in classrooms.

• Technology is different and buildings do not fully accommodate (ex. Industrial arts programs).

• Schools are the life of communities and without a thriving school, communities don’t prosper.

• Primary need a roof, past leak issues and possible mold

• Enough classrooms to accommodate growing class sizes; in the lower grades, keeping those class sizes small

• Sports facilities to be upgraded; baseball field and softball fields constantly need upkeep and money being thrown away

• Current 3-5 building, keeping students safe while sports teams are coming in

• Parking as a whole a concern

• Nurses office and area for kids who are sick

• Storage space in general

• Class size

• Primary buildings condition

• Ability to expand hands on learning environments

• Parking

• Space for growing community

• More room

• Need a career academy

• Understanding of open enrollment

• Free lunch for all!

• Opportunities for non-athletes

• Opportunities for real life skills

• Emphasis on non-college careers

• Little to no experiential learning opportunities, can’t even partner with the career academy, so if we can’t partner and don’t offer it - how will our kids get it?

• Primary building - outdated and potentially unsafe

• Overcrowding

• Primary school

• Making sure our kids can compete in school, technology, athletics

• Lack of space

• Offering up to date programs

• Primary Building is a “health hazard”!

• Primary Building needs to have something done

• Do we put kids into tired buildings, if something passes and we move kids up a building we need to make sure other buildings are ready to hold new/more kids

• Technology

• Asbestos in Primary

• Age of the buildings

• High school having to use Elementary School for athletic events

• Fine Art facilities 

• Lack of opportunities in the fine arts area

• Balance between athletics and fine arts

• Space

• Traffic and Parking near Elementary and Primary Buildings

• Primary – HVAC issues, roof issues, asbestos

• Middle School has had significant flooding issues

• Overcrowding in all buildings – in the classrooms, in parking lots, in sporting facilities… 

• High school students are encouraged to take college holding, internships, and peer tutor positions so they are not in the building. If everyone who is supposed to be at the HS was there at one time, there would be even more overcrowding. 

• HS students must go to Elementary for practices & games because it has the only gym large enough to accommodate. 

• We are unable to host HS baseball because it’s not regulation.

• All administration has to work twice as hard to find space to accommodate classes, practices, etc. 

• There is not enough gym space or other sports facilities to accommodate our kids.

• The current HS auditorium is not large enough to accommodate the HS student body. All assemblies in the HS gyms.

• The size of the current HS & MS is preventing our kids from having certain educational opportunities – limited space does not allow for certain classes/academic tracks to be offered

• Current facilities may be limiting our students in terms of technology that’s available 

• Current facilities have only minimal ADA accommodations.

• Primary building age and condition

• Overcrowding

• Up to date facilities

• The primary building is dilapidated

• Wiring issues in the primary building

• Fire alarms going off in primary building

• Water issues in the primary building

• A new high school gym - not playing in the elementary school or hosting events at the elementary school

• The lack of parking at the elementary school for high school events at the elementary school because our high school gym isn’t big enough

• New softball and baseball fields

• A better facility for our arts -  Show choir, band, etc.  Give the kids something to buy into and be proud of

• Upgraded safety at our schools

• Space (classrooms, lockers, trade program classes, etc)

• Parking

• The Primary building 

• Trade programs

• Athletic facilities

• Unsafe

• Embarrassing 

• Health concerns with air, mold, asbestos

• Primary school issues, water leaks, asbestos, hvac, size, modernization

• District as a whole: not enough space in any building.

• Modernization: current buildings were not designed for modern educational practices and technology needs.

• Some sports facilities are poor quality (Softball/baseball, wrestling, no tennis).

• It is a little odd to have the primary varsity gym in a different location from the high school. 

• Parking issues at several schools also (students and events).

• Classrooms are maxed out, need more for expanding community 

• School needs to grow with the growing community 

• Open-enrollment education  

• High school needs space for culinary, wood working, life skills, etc.

• Outdated sports complex and training facilities

QUESTION #4: WHAT PERCEPTIONS AND/OR FACTORS WILL HAVE THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE OUTCOME OF A FUTURE BOND REFERENDUM?

• Money and where does it come from

• Taxes

• Inflation (cost of material/labor)

• Communication, meetings, discussions moving forward with community

• Leverage the sports complex with PPEL or 1 cent sales tax while the new school would be a bond

• A lot of misinformation was spread about previous processes - how can the board be more transparent with plans?

• Property owner versus renter

• How many young families now (voters) versus those who are not affiliated with the district or are around retirement age

• This is the first time there has been a “documented process” with working in groups with the laptop

• Transparency 

• Hard to find information on website, really had to dig to find information

• Trust - voting was done at numerous times in locations that are not normally used and with an expanded time span

• Finances - individual families and their tax burden

• Current data to guide decision making for facilities

• Perception is reality - lack of people understanding the $ that was donated for the turf field

• Communication and transparency

• Clear and honest communication regarding the true tax increases

• Clear and honest communication regarding the rules of open enrollment

• City of Sergeant Bluff has pushed the bond elections and also the tax breaks for new construction causing a potential additional burden on home owners of existing homes not included in the tax abatement. This seems to punish those who are already here.

• City to do a full blown traffic study to address safety

• Demonstrate need for new facilities - not all can see it 

• Open discussion of facts

• Whether sports are a necessary part of a good education

• All votes are necessary - younger people are needed to vote

• Families are house poor

• Negative voters 

• Positive -starting from ground zero

• Rental families to get out and vote

• Taxes are perceived as negative (tax abatement, open enrollment impacts)

• Perception that we are successful with the facilities we have - why upgrade

• Perception that population growth is declining

• “Vote No” propaganda machine is a negative

• Fresh approach with no direct influence from school administrators can be positive

• Transparency and information will be a positive

• Taxes/cost - need full transparency

• Tax abatement - need full transparency how this impacts/doesn’t impact

• Misinformation

• Highlighting the issues with the existing structures - School size

• Connect with voters of all backgrounds and all types of housing. Need to highlight how a new school would benefit EVERYONE.

• Need to appeal to all the people that would vote yes. Need to get them to vote

• What proposal would a “no” voter support?

• Misconception about open enrollment numbers.

• Mis-information being shared and not addressed/disputed with facts.

• Include details of costs - how much is for the baseball/softball and how much is for school.

• More data about benefits of athletics for children - ex. Team GPAs, how many are multi-sport athletes, etc.

• Attracting good teachers/staff, businesses, etc.

• To have a thriving community.

• Communications that have misinformation

• What added courses will be available in a new upgraded facility

• What added sports will be available

• Domino effect - if a new high school is built, how do the other grades move

• If the primary is closed, what happens to the building or land

• Taxes

• More sports

• Retirees not understanding the new skill sets required

• Tax Abatements

• Getting younger generations to vote/counteract the “NOs” - 18-25 year olds - your kids will be benefiting!

• Increase house valuations - educate people about this

• No Voters will continue to put out false information - educate, educate, educate!

• Open enrollment

• Effect bond has on taxes

• Getting the WHOLE COMMUNITY on the same page (maybe talk to each group) Talk to all

• Keep it facts/figures Truthful

• Information - Easily accessible and Accurate

• Make sure whole community has the information they need to make a decision - Renters, Apartment, Single Family Homes

• The effect on families taxes

• Cost broke down by importance - Ala cart, Itemize, And here’s why

• Can we get donors/sponsors to help support - So break down costs and bond certain things and fundraise other areas

• The level of voice for positive and negative voices

• Information and education on what happens if it doesn’t pass - 39 million to 62 million and if it doesn’t pass in 5 more years it’ll be 110 millionIt’s essential to create trust with the voters. There’s been so much conflicting information in the past and that has eroded trust. 

• The group that’s been against the bond issues in the past HAS TO BE STOPPED or these will never pass. They stick together, they spread misinformation, and they continue to spread mistruths. 

• We wish there could be a way that we could just have the people who want it, to pay for it. This would be similar to a private school situation or what happens when churches or nonprofits need to raise money for new facilities. 

• We wonder if there would be a way for private funding to have sports complexes??? If those things were funded separately then we could look only at raising money for the school buildings.

• Somehow we need to get the word out about WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING IN the schools – how they are overcrowded, how there isn’t enough locker room or gym space

• Person-to-person campaigns??? 

• Using social media to share a “day in the life” with what’s happening with students

• Sharing honest information about open enrollment – especially with the misinformation that has been shared in the past.

• Considering how school choice (and the new law that’s been passed) could impact this situation positively or negatively.

• Amount of tax increase

• Comprehensive plan

• Kids have what they need and access

• Cost effective and not a show piece

• How much in savings has the school district saved over the years

• Open communication

• Confront false advertising

• Address the negatives

• Get older people and young families involved

• Lack of correct knowledge/false information being sent out

• Get the apartment residents and Oak Hills residents to vote

• Younger kids 18 and above to vote

• Families with younger children need to actually vote

• Somehow convince people of the true facts

• Money - inflation - costs

• Hard no under any circumstance group of voters will show up to vote

• Concern with taxes being raised

• Communication

• Perception of open enrollment

• Having a strong school system increases your property value and business value

• More data for more informed decisions.

• Transparency of info

• Get no voters on board

• Possible purchasers of Primary to help funding

• Possible investor / sponsor for new School or Sports Complex?

QUESTION #5: WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THE PREVIOUS REFERENDUMS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PASS?

• Price tag

• Open enrollment

• Transparency

• The “no” voters really were aggressive in getting their word out

• Tax abatement is not the issue

• Because of the “sports complex” is on the ballot; citizen’s may vote yes if the sports complex is

• Heard many disagreed with the focus on sports complex

• Dollar amount jump

• Mis-information distributed outside (i.e. fliers, social media posts)

• Open Enrollment - can this process be explained more clearly and how the financials with consideration to bond process

• Transparency 

• Trust

• Open enrollment - lack of a true understanding and how it is managed

• Sports complex

• Tax abatement questions

• There is a very strong “no” vote group that works hard to promote their position

• The process in the past has seemed to be very “top down”

• Too big of tax increase for the bonds that include a new high school

• Communication, communication, communication

• Trust in the district

• Not being listened to

• Deceptive practices from the organized “vote no” group that won’t accept anything that will raise any taxes.

• Implementation of a new turf field played into the hands of “vote no” group by giving them talking points

• Lack of transparency

• Wrong perception of open enrollment

• Wrong concept of tax abatement effect on community

• Personal beliefs rather than believing the true facts impacts on voting decision 

• Not enough community involvement on teaching property tax values

• Organized No vote that appeal to empty nesters

• People felt like not enough information was shared

• Some bond votes were announced late in the process and people felt like they were in the dark

• Relied too heavily on a plan from 2008-09 and community input wasn't updated

• Lack of understanding by the average citizen what the per month cost is for the debt service levy

• Have people that are so invested in homes and toys that they are paycheck to paycheck

• People don't like the open enrollment policy that limits the growth

• Misinformation

• “No” voters

• Need input from the “no” voters. What proposals would they support? Didn’t spend enough time hearing input from “no” voters

• Not enough administration/school help and support

• Mis-information/not refuting some of that misinformation strongly enough.

• Low voter turnout - not getting enough engagement from those with kids in school who are impacted.

• More effort/energy towards informing and educating in advance of the vote.

• Lack of information

• People need to be proactive and attend informational meetings

• Can the school district work with the city and send out information through the utility bill?  Everyone receives a utility bill monthly.

• Impact of open enrollment

• Abatement conversation

• Misinformation being spread

• Lack of industry to lower tax burden on residential 

• Getting the majority of residents to care enough to get educated

• Misinformation

• Always “no” people

• The “no” voters are loud and their information is scary and powerful enough to get others out to vote

• Maybe the quick turn around of bond referendums gave impression it was a “bandaid” approach and not well thought out

• Misinformation on open enrollment, taxes, people not wanting sports complex

• Raising taxes, people need to know what we need to keep up with the Educational Needs of our SBL Students

• Reaching out to companies to help support a new sports complex (using their naming rites)

• Lack of education

• Lack of communication

• Lack of getting information out to the community

• The no voice was much louder - More in your face, more information getting put out to us

• Leader (pervious Superintendent) was not well spoken not well liked by no vote

• It’s essential to create trust with the voters. There’s been so much conflicting information in the past and that has eroded trust. 

• The group that’s been against the bond issues in the past HAS TO BE STOPPED or these will never pass. They stick together, they spread misinformation, and they continue to spread mistruths. 

• We wish there could be a way that we could just have the people who want it, to pay for it. This would be similar to a private school situation or what happens when churches or nonprofits need to raise money for new facilities. 

• We wonder if there would be a way for private funding to have sports complexes??? If those things were funded separately then we could look only at raising money for the school buildings.

• Somehow we need to get the word out about WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING IN the schools – how they are overcrowded, how there isn’t enough locker room or gym space

• Person-to-person campaigns??? 

• Using social media to share a “day in the life” with what’s happening with students

• Sharing honest information about open enrollment – especially with the misinformation that has been shared in the past.

• Considering how school choice (and the new law that’s been passed) could impact this situation positively or negatively.

• Sharing of misinformation–mailers that skew the tax info, focus on open enrollment as an issue (even though it’s not)

• FULLY SHARING the information that voters are asked to be voting on. When there’s full information shared, it builds trust. When it’s lacking, it creates a lack of trust.

• Finding ways to fully share information, offer tours, have person-to-person conversations, use social media. 

• Perhaps a debate of those for/against.

• Amount of tax increase

• Comprehensive plan

• Kids have what they need and access

• Cost effective and not a show piece

• How much in savings has the school district saved over the years

• People are afraid of their taxes increasing

• It’s easier to be to be drawn around negativity versus positivity

• People may feel if we don’t get a new school the community will not grow

• Misinformation

• 18 Yr olds not voting

• Yes voters not voting

• The community needs to see photos and videos of other schools that outshine ours to give a visual comparison as proof of deficit in the SBL buildings

• It would be compelling if students presented to the public; what they have experienced when visiting other schools for athletics, musicals, etc and how it compares to the SBL current facilities.

• Focus on the YES voters to know the WHY and get them to vote. Stop trying to convince the NO voters.

• Show photos of the dilapidated facilities currently.

• $$$

• Lack of community support

• Misconceptions about purpose and cost of items, impact on taxes

• Turnout???

• Income

• Economy 

• Children already graduated or not in school yet 

• Knowledge and/or spread of false information 

• Open-enrollment education

QUESTION #1: WHAT DID YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE FACILITY PLANS PRESENTED IN PREVIOUS BOND REFERENDUMS?

• One of them was all encompassing and included all levels. 2018. (Forward looking referendum that addressed all needs not just a band-aid for current issues.

• Additional auditorium relieved conflicts in size and scheduling.

• Every level has more room for students.

• Addressed safety issues that were not thought of when previous buildings were constructed.

• Addressed parking at events

• More space 

• Updates / newer baseball, softball & tennis areas

• Provide for more growth in our building & community

• High school campus separate from middle school campus

• primary building has horrendous facilities

• liked that the option to close the outdated primary building

• the options for improved and updated sports facilities

• bond plans appear to solve facility issues in regards to athletics and activities

• plans would provide resources to a variety of departments (science) in addition to obvious athletic benefits

• They all addressed needs. 

• The primary needing to be torn down.

• How all inclusive they were (not piece-meal) 

• Total fixes

• Athletics and all school facilities (tennis, baseball, softball)

• The idea of an industrial tech campus

• Total demo of the primary

• New Primary School

• The Sports Complex will bring revenue to Sergeant Bluff and local businesses. 

• Could provide additional resources for all learning departments.

• They were trying to solve a long term problem, instead of finding a quick fix. 

• The idea of a new primary building. 

• The district tried to find a plan that worked for our community. They tried many different approaches and changed aspects every time.

• Liked having a school and sports complex

• Liked getting rid of primary

• Liked different traffic flow

• Tearing down primary and using space for sports complex - flow was great

• New primary building

• Updates to a new HS - new technology (kitchen in culinary and science labs)

QUESTION #2: WHAT WERE YOUR GREATEST CONCERNS ABOUT THE FACILITY PLANS PRESENTED IN THE PREVIOUS BOND REFERENDUMS?

• Inadequate communication about actual cost. To the taxpayer. How are public funds actually spent? utilities/salary/maintenance/purchases within the distinct.

• Educating the public about reinvesting into the community and it makes the value of the community better.

• Didn’t give people options as to if they preferred a building with or without a sports complex.

• Early version only had shell of auditorium

• Previous plans were not comprehensive, just a band aid fix.

• Really only address high school and don’t fix primary/elementary/middle school issues

• Cost

• Sports complex focus

• Remodel option is only a temporary solution 

• The community needs complete transparency - what are all of the steps of the process, what comes next, how long will it take to fix everything (there are problems in all of the buildings)

• the greatest concern about the facility plans proved to be an increase in cost both in the total cost of the building and the increase in taxes for those who live within the district.

• for the last proposal (2021 Failed Vote), there was some concern over the proposal’s seemingly “band-aid” approach to alleviating the concerns over facilities

• an opinion that was also expressed was that the gym within the 3-5 building probably should not have been constructed.

• Taxes were not presented clearly.

• PPEL is a bandage that was a waste of money.

• Sports complexes are pushed over schools.

• Library was a wide hallway (no actual room)

• The original plan had limited windows

• Every room should have a window to connect with nature

• On the band-aid fix the campus seemed discombobulated.

• Seemed like a bit of a stretch to have all athletics on the new property and the school buildings staying in town

• The primary building is being overlooked, even after health and safety concerns.

• Sports needs being prioritized over other essential needs.

• We are focusing too much on sports and not the buildings that need fixed. 

• We would like the community to get behind the sports teams like other smaller districts. 

• Information was not provided to the community. Unless you work in the district, you do not know what is happening. No mailings were received for voting people. 

• There were more “no” people going door to door and handing out flyers than “yes” people. 

• The “no” people had more reach than the “yes” people. The people living in the voting district, but living in SIoux City, do not receive any information about the bonds. There are people who live in the Sergeant Bluff district, whose kids go to Sioux City schools, that do not want to pay the higher taxes and vote no.

• Gym was never big enough for volleyball tourneys

• Didn’t like the new primary only idea

• Chaos with drivers

• Remodel to the HS. Seems like a bandaid to the problems.

• Need a better balance between academics and sport additions

QUESTION #3: WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACILITY RELATED ISSUES FACING SBL SCHOOLS?

• Safety

• Space

• Parking in general and events.

• Functionality/practicality of classroom usage.

• Extra curricular activity spaces.

• STORAGE

• ADA compliance

• Space

• Not enough classrooms

• Teaching staff will need to increase along with students

• Parking lot in high school

• Bussing between middle school & high school

• Bathrooms are too small

• The overall status of the primary building (facilities etc.)

• High school locker rooms must be improved

• Infrastructure issues within the high school as well (water pressure in far western bathrooms is woefully lacking)

• Science, FCS (ProStart), Industrial Tech (need updated facilities)

• Baseball and Softball fields and facilities are lacking (small, poor condition)

• Parking lot in elementary and high school are undersized

• Health concerns (mold, asbestos, temperature control)

• Hallways are cramped

• Classrooms don’t have enough space

• There are not enough classrooms, especially supplemental staff (SPED, ESL). A lot of us have to share.

• We do not have good/safe labs for science classes

• Constant water issues

• Varsity sports take place at the elementary 

• There is not enough parking space for sporting events or cars at the high school

• There is no parking for traveling staff or staff that runs home over lunch

• Security is HUGE!!!! Some doors do not lock. People are always coming and going.

• Safety in sports facilities is concerning

• Not enough desks/seating for students.

• Primary smells like sewer

• Toilets DO NOT flush.

• Staff bathrooms are terrible

• Classrooms that are not classrooms are serving as classrooms for example closets and conference rooms.

• We have areas that are NOT ADA accessible.

• Safety and resources for special education and physical disabilities.

• Gyms are horrible at all schools except the primary.

• HVAC systems are never working properly

• Room for students

• Space to share and have conversation

• Accessibility for our wheelchair bound students (kitchens and some “closet” rooms are too tight to fit)

• More area for individual testing, pods, a private secluded test center

• Learning is changing

• We keep juggling activities due to lack of space (clothing closet, show choir risers, stage space, varsity gym at an elementary, mirror room that is an all-purpose room for archery, cheer, dance, pe, the varsity wrestling room being at the middle school, no room for additional teachers and staff

• safety

• Lack of windows already

• Primary School:

  • Black Mold

  • Asbestos

  • Leaking Glycol 

  • Leaking Roof (more mold)

  • Odor of plumbing and sewer

  • Poor Plumbing (multiple flushing attempts, very low water pressure)

  • Safety and security at all entrances and exits

  • Critters (mice/spiders/snakes) due to separation of foundation 

  • Congestion in hallways during transitions.

  • Lunchroom Flow

  • Playground conditions during unfavorable weather (ice, standing water)

  • No space for intervention & enrichment groups 

  • Traffic flow - drop off & dismissal unsafe. Kids walking in between moving buses and moving vehicles. 

  • Playground security and safety - unsecure access

  • Space for behavior needs/mental health concerns (while prioritizing student privacy)

  • Meeting space, conference rooms, parent meeting rooms. 

  • Storage space.

• Increasing security at all buildings

• Mold on sinks, counters, window sills. 

• Critters getting into classrooms

• Spray painting the ceiling to cover up mold and water spots

• Glycol leaks in classrooms that will sit for multiple days. Students need to double up in other classrooms to learn. 

• No heat in classrooms, students need to wear coats and gloves and need to leave the classroom. 

• Air conditioning goes out at the beginning of the year when it is hot. 

• Dry air, teachers needing to put humidifiers in their rooms and change every day. 

• Small classroom spaces. There is not enough space for our daycare, 1st, and 2nd graders. 

• Broken blinds, leaking windows, windows that do not open

• There is no space for ESL, meeting spaces, a sensory room, a collaborative space. 

• The flow of students in the hallway, in the lunchroom, at dismissal and arrival times. 

• Students eating lunch in the art room or classroom because there is no space

• Safety concerns about doors that are not latching, doors that will not close due to humidity

• Children like to run in the long hallways

• Unsafe playground situations, extreme ice and standing water. The ice melts and refreezes every night and in the winter there is ice every morning at recess covering sidewalks and under slides and swings. 

• Lack of plug ins, cords running through rooms, broken light switches

• Primary

• Technology

• Sports complex - not enough room for MS and HS

• Traffic

• Not space for additional groups - dance team, robotics, etc…

• Lab space

• Primary building

• Tennis Courts

• High school competition gym in the 3-5 building

QUESTION #4: WHAT PERCEPTIONS AND/OR FACTORS WILL HAVE THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE OUTCOME OF A FUTURE BOND REFERENDUM?

• Open enrollment

• External appearance of the building doesn't show the inside needs.

• ADA compliance with all facilities.

• Continue to be transparent and honest with information.

• Complete transparency on what will be fixed, how long it will take & cost

• Getting word out better to all community members - postcards weren’t sent out, not all community members are on social media & know about these meetings

• Perception: there is a perception that exists that SBL, as a school, stands for “sports before learning” and that Sergeant Bluff is more focused on athletics than academics

• Another concern is an increase in taxes as well as the general rise of prices due to inflation

• Another concern that was discussed was the potential concerns surrounding open enrollment

• Taxes

• People need to see the facilities in action!!!

• Lots of older people that think they would not benefit from the new facilities.

• People are moving here for the schools, we need to reflect that!!

• We need to have resources in lots of languages - main ones - Spanish, Dinka, Swahili, and Lao

• There has to be a balance between traditional sports, fine arts, and all school activities that will benefit (represented in the plan and the marketing)

• There should be open enrollment statistics more publicized

• Provide legal district explanation of open enrollment rules

• Drive home the difference in the tax increase (ten cents)

• Hear from local professionals about the primary’s disaster - The smell, The ducts, The environmental concerns, The district health department

• “Only an idiot votes to raise his own taxes” so we have to be compelling and rooted in the reason/purpose - Show why it is important to support the schools, Apartment community, Retired community, The single people, The ones without children or who didn’t have kids in the system

• Combat the long history of failed attempts

• Surrounding school districts for comparison (Lawton got a new school that is already too small?)

• The need to add teachers and/or offerings for electives but no room for students to take classes or no other classes for them to take (many resort to taking work release because there are no classes for them to take)

• Focus on the most important needs of the district.

• Safety and security

• Building Needs

• A comprehensive plan that addresses ALL of the buildings for the entire district. 

• Being transparent with tax increase numbers.

• Personal contact needs to happen

• Transparency

• Sports complex should not be put above the primary building that needs the most work.

• People have to see it - buckets to catch leaks

• People are house poor - can barely afford to live in district

• Tax implication needs to be more simple to understand

• Need a tax calculator to really see how much a person would really pay - Could be a mailing as well with tax info - personalized

• Negative: Sports Before Learning (SBL) 

• Positive: Blue Ribbon School

QUESTION #5: WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THE PREVIOUS REFERENDUMS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PASS?

• Some people just don’t want to pay more taxes

• Fixed income

• Lack of trust

• Lack of communication

• Hold a grudge over previous leadership

• Easy to keep status quo

• Lack of generational ties to community

• Lack of understanding of educational needs that have changed over the decades (pro-start not home ec.) STEM

• Not a comprehensive plan. Narrow focused. Band-aid.

• Lack of knowing who all pays taxes in our district, where the businesses are located. (Singing Hill BLvd. businesses not just Port Neal)

• Football & track updated recently cost a lot of money (really nice for a middle school)

• Sports complex (SBL = sports before learning)

• Compared to SC schools our buildings are not in bad shape and our classes are not huge

• Community doesn’t understand “pots” of money & how and why they can be used

• very conservative town (do not like a raise in taxes)

• have the ability to actually impact the referendum (possible power trip for some)

• facilities are already up to par

• new buildings do not equal higher test scores (ain’t broke, don’t fix it)

• Everyone just assumes taxes will go up tremendously.

• People think that it is all sports orientated.

• People who do not have kids think it will not benefit them.

• Taxes and Sports misconceptions

• Lack of need understood

• Secret young people (without kids or with really young kids) that aren’t actually supporting

• Reluctant to grow into too BIG of a school like a sioux city or a des moines

• Some people like our tight small community and are fearful of the opportunity

• “This was good enough for me it is fine for them”

• School looks as good as it can- so from a drive-by it looks great. But that is on our maintenance crew doing a great job.

• Lack of honesty and transparency.

• Confusion on open enrollment and how that works in the district. 

• Prioritizing sports before safety and security of students.

• The sports complex was put above academics

• The attitude of the “yes” people when talking to the “no” people

• There were many families that did not get information on the bonds, no families living in SIoux City, yet in the Sergeant Bluff district, received any “yes” information

• There was not enough input from the extended community

• Lack of transparency

• Also not enough community involvement - meeting attendance was poor

• People without kids in the district

• Reaching older adults

• Too much focus on sports (at times)

• Misconceptions about the primary

• Student listening session were held on Wednesday, March 22 and Thursday, March 23. Seven separate sessions were held with grades 4 - 11.  The students were taken through an guided visualization exercise where they imagined a "Dream School" in 2073... 

  • What does is look like?

  • What does it feel like?

  • What does it sound like?

  • What are teachers doing?

  • What are students doing? 

• Then, students worked in groups to gather their ideas about their Dream School. From there each group created a "Postcard of the Future" of their vision, addressing it to someone of significance.