Data From APS Telephone Analysis Indicates Solid Support of School District

More than three-quarters of respondents to a facility needs telephone survey believe there is a need for a bond issue in the Auburn Public Schools (APS) district. Results also indicated strong support for the district.
Information from the questionnaire was presented to the APS Board of Education and administrators Monday night, May 11 at Peru State College. It was shared by Annette Eyman of Kordica Communications.
Eyman told the board and administrators the statistics will be helpful in moving forward. She recommended referring to all space as educational space, as well as being careful about using architectural renderings and to be transparent on what a bond issue includes.
Aspects of the evaluation, with favorable percentages, are: 89 percent good value for investment; 86 percent proud of APS; 80 percent quality education; 78 percent fiscally responsible; 77 percent need for bond issue and 67 percent good investment and would support a tax increase to protect it.
Regarding levels of tax increases, 76 percent would support an increase of 6.3 cents; 67 percent an increase of 9.2 cents; 63 percent an increase of 10.43 cents and 56 percent an increase of 14.35 cents.
Overall, 77 percent would potentially favor; 74 percent thought a bond would be a strongly good or good idea; 72 percent strongly support or support a bond for additional classrooms while 68 percent would support or strongly support adding classrooms and renovating Calvert Elementary, improving middle school security, a new high school gymnasium and converting the existing gymnasium into a performing arts facility.
All project areas had at least 50 percent favorable support. They were: 90 safety and security enhancements; 83 updating heating ventilating and air conditioning; 70 additional classrooms at Calvert; 66 updating the kitchen and cafeteria at Calvert; 64 renovating the auditorium at the Central Office; 57 a new gymnasium at the high school; 56 renovating the gymnasium into an auditorium and building a new gymnasium and 50 building a new auditorium. Eyman said each question was asked independently and were rated on a scale.
What participants liked most about APS, with percentages, were: good teachers, 25; quality academics, 18; sense of community, 13; variety of programs, 11; sports, 10; high achievement scores, 9; broad curriculum, 7; and 3 each scattered or don’t know/declined to answer.
Key Steps To Success
Eyman urged targeting parents to register and vote. She continued parents are the least likely to vote but the most likely to support a bond.
Beth Kernes Krause, board member, recalled APS previously had a successful election by dividing an issue into three options.
The presenter noted dependable messaging would include safety and security, additional classrooms at Calvert, and enhancing and maintaining educational excellence.
Also recommended was parallel information and a Vote Yes campaign, and ballot language and messaging was critical.
Eyman thought the election would be close. She added the best chance at success would be considering a 9 cent or lower tax increase, and thinking about the high school gymnasium and auditorium. The latter has clear flexibility as instructional space.
Methodology, Demographics
The 300 randomly selected individuals polled including Auburn residents and registered voters.
The breakdown was 51 percent female and 49 percent male. By age, 35 percent ages 35 to 65 years, 28 percent ages 25 to 34 years, 24 percent ages 65 and older and 13 percent ages 18 to 24. 
There were 28 percent who were parents of school age students, 92 percent Auburn, 4 percent parochial or private school, 2 percent other public school, 1 percent each home school or would not say.
Of those likely to vote in November, 34 percent very likely, 29 percent not too likely, 24 percent absolutely certain, 12 percent not likely at all and 1 percent did not know. As far as voter history, 62 percent exercise their voting rights always or often, while 38 percent rarely or never cast ballots.