By Joanna Miller, Staff Writer

At a Citizens for Accountable Government forum Tuesday, school district representatives met with the group that opposed last year’s referendum.

CAG Chairman Dave Thompson thanked Superintendent Sue Ann Gruver, Director of Business Affairs Margo Nash, Board Chairwoman Lee Shimek, and Members Chris Lind and Eric Pratt for “coming into the lion’s den” to answer questions on this year’s referendum.

First, the district representatives shared information about this fall’s referendum. The first question would renew the existing $7 million levy and add $1.65 million to open Redtail Ridge Elementary in Savage and the Twin Oaks swimming pool. A second question, contingent on the first passing, would ask for $700,000, which would be used to hire about 11 classroom staff members to reduce class sizes.

“These levies sunset June 30, and the money is gone. Without that, we’re in a whole other reality,” Gruver told the group.

She thanked the approximately 30 people in attendance for their contribution through the previous levy.

“You have made a difference in these children’s lives,” Gruver said.

She noted that with class sizes increasing, some teachers have removed their own desks from classrooms to make room for student space.

“We’re getting a lot of value out of the staff we have,” she said.

Gruver said the board members got the message to sharpen their pencils by bringing forth a referendum this year that is half of what they asked for in 2007.

“We are at a crisis point in our district,” Gruver said. “We’d really love to have your support.”

During the Q&A session, one man asked about the board’s decision to deviate from a public survey.

Survey consultant Don Lifto, senior vice president and director of public education for Springsted Inc., had said that “only a proposal to simply renew the levy achieves support from more than 50 percent [of the public],” based on the survey results from May.

The group pointed out that survey showed 59 percent of people were in favor of renewal of the levy, with 11 percent undecided. With an increase and levy renewal, the support had dropped to 43 percent approval with 9.5 percent undecided.

Why ask for the levy renewal and an increase in the same question?

Gruver responded, saying that the board looked at what the district needed and put the most crucial needs into the first question. The district currently has Redtail Ridge Elementary sitting empty, she said, so that is already part of keeping what the district currently has and optimizing its use.

“It’s not a new commitment; it’s putting the pieces together,” Gruver said.

Still, one group member said that the district was using the empty school and the closed pool as a strategy to pass the referendum.

“The strategy was not to fool anyone; the numbers speak for themselves,” Gruver said.

Gruver said the students to attend the school are already in the system, and it wouldn’t be fiscally responsible to taxpayers to allow the building to sit empty.

County commissioner candidates, who spoke during the forum, were also asked to present their views on the school district’s referendum.

Candidates Chad LeMair, Barbara Marschall, Chris Olson and Tom Wolf all spoke in favor of the referendum.

“I think we’re in big trouble if this doesn’t pass,” Olson said. He added that there may be spending issues, but “I think we’re at a crossroads here, and I’m in support.”

“I’m voting for No. 1 and leaning toward voting yes for No. 2,” Wolf said of the two-part question. “I think we’ve got to support them.”

Marschall, who substitute teaches in the district, said she is also in support.

“I think it’s a real shame we have Redtail Ridge sitting empty and can’t open the doors,” she said. “I think that as a school district, we have to support what schools need.”

LeMair said as a parent whose children attend private school, he would seem less likely to support the referendum, but as a Prior Lake High School graduate he feels a need to support the public schools, too.

“I am in support of both of these items,” LeMair said. “My kids will all go to high school in Prior Lake. I am a product of this school system. It’s my responsibility to give back to future generations.”

One person asked what other options were being looked into for Redtail Ridge Elementary if the school doesn’t open.

Since it was built as an elementary school, Gruver said the district may look at moving away from the community schools concept in order to use the most efficient facilities for students and close a different school in the district.

Shimek said they haven’t gotten to details of school closings yet as a board.

“We’re hoping we’ll end up with positive results,” Shimek said.

Lind added that he didn’t feel the board was trying to trick voters.

“It wasn’t like, ‘How can we hook them?’” Lind said. “It was very split. There was much debate … It wasn’t like, ‘How can we sell this?’ It was, ‘What do we need?’”

One resident called for the board to look back at, “How did we get here?”

She asked what was in the 50 percent that was deemed necessary last year for voters and this year the board didn’t ask for.

Nash said most of the difference has been not asking for operating dollars and building funds for a Prior Lake High School addition.

 Joanna Miller can be reached at (952) 345-6375 or jmiller@swpub.com.