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Renovate high school facilities, survey says |
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 Renovate Andover and Lahser and do it for less money, says a post-election telephone survey of 400 registered voters in the Bloomfield Hills School District.
The survey was among three conducted in June to guide the Board toward potential next steps to addressing serious needs at both facilities following the defeat of a proposal May 8 to build two new replacement schools. Results from an absentee voter survey and an online poll of District parents are awaiting final tabulation and presentation to the Board later this summer.
The telephone survey conducted by EPIC/MRA of Lansing showed that when asked to evaluate options one by one, 56 percent of respondents favored renovating both high schools instead of building new facilities. The survey’s margin of error was 4.9 percent.
Other options included building two new smaller high schools at the current Andover and Lahser locations (35% in favor); one new high school at Andover for all District high school students (29% in favor); one new high school at Lahser for all District high school students (21% in favor); one new high school and renovating the other (20% in favor); and one new high school at the Bowers Farm to house all District high school students (15% in favor).
Further, when asked which of all options they would prefer, 40 percent of respondents said renovation. That indicates “strong support”, said Ed Sarpolus, vice president of the polling firm.
He advised the Board at a July 12 Study Session that results show the community is willing to invest in education, but that a “yes” or "no” vote was based on a judgment of the worthiness of the investment. “No” voters, he said, did not understand how the proposed investment in school facilities would lead to improved education.
Specifically, the poll asked those surveyed why in their opinion the bond request failed. Seventy-seven percent said that ”the proposal was too expensive” was a significant factor for ”no” votes; 69 percent said voters preferred the buildings be renovated; 63 percent said they believe “no” voters thought the tax increase was not affordable; and 60 percent said that people voted no because new schools would not mean improved education..
“The Board will seriously consider this input as we take a hard look at what we can reasonably do to solve the problems in our aging buildings,” said David Lubin, who was appointed treasurer of the Board of Education at its July 12 meeting. “The need is urgent, but we have to listen to our constituents and propose what’s right for our students and something that our community will be comfortable supporting.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 December 2007 )
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