1. Tomahawk School District Community Survey Results
Fall 2016

2. Survey Summary The community survey was conducted in October of 2016.
Residents within the District were mailed a paper survey. Each survey included a unique survey access code for those who preferred to take the survey online.
Total responses = 963 (475 paper)
Participation rate = 16%
Margin of error on full sample = +/- 3.2%

3. Respondent Information

4. What is your age?

5. Do you live in the Tomahawk School District?

6. Are you an employee of the Tomahawk School District?

7. Do you have child(ren) attending the District?

8. If you have school-aged children, what school(s) do they attend?

9. In which city or township do you reside?

10. Please mark ALL other relationships you have with the Tomahawk School District:

11. Overall, how do you feel the quality of the Tomahawk School District is affecting your home value? (All Respondents)

12. How would you like to receive school/District information?

13. Achieving Excellence

14. Non-Parents (Non-Staff)
How well are we doing in each of the following areas? Great (4), Good (3), Fair (2), Poor (1)
Item
Staff
Parents
(Non-Staff)
Non-Parents (Non-Staff)
Maintaining school facilities
3.11
3.20
Providing a welcoming and safe learning environment
3.32
3.08
3.07
Building pride in our community
3.21
3.09
3.05
Using technology to enhance the learning experience
3.27
2.94
Delivering a high-quality educational experience
2.93
2.90
Preparing students for life after high school (Including: Workforce, Armed Forces, Technical College and/or University)
2.86
2.79
2.74
Making decisions in the best interest of students
2.77
2.64
2.70
Keeping the public informed
2.66
Hiring and retaining high-quality staff
2.41
2.59
2.60
Meeting the needs of all students
2.75
2.73
Spending tax dollars wisely
2.87
2.72
2.45

15. Overall, how satisfied are you with the Tomahawk School District
Overall, how satisfied are you with the Tomahawk School District? (All Respondents)

16. Financial Planning

17. Please respond to the following questions:
All Residents
Non-Parent Residents
(Non-Staff)
Question
Yes No
Should the District consider implementing higher fees for student participation?
61%
39%
Should the District reduce busing services to save money?
46%
54%
49%
51%
Would you support reductions in support staff to save money?
36%
64%
47%
53%
Should the District slow the replacement of technology to save money?
40%
60%
43%
57%
Should the District continue to increase elementary class sizes to save money?
23%
77%
33%
67%
Should the District increase middle/high school class sizes to save money?
24%
76%
Should the District decrease middle/high school course offerings to save money?
18%
82%
25%
75%

18. Programs/Services

19. Non-Parent Residents (Non-Staff)
If funding cuts are needed, how should the District budget? Expand (3), Keep (2), Reduce (1)
Item
All Residents
Staff Residents
Parent Residents
(Non-Staff)
Non-Parent Residents (Non-Staff)
Career/Technology Education (CTE)
2.04
2.00
2.06
STEM
2.03
Technology Staff
1.99
2.02
1.96
Reading Teachers
1.95
Business Ed.
1.93
1.97
1.89
Special Education
1.92
1.88
AP & Distance Learning Courses
1.9
1.84
1.86
Physical Education (PE)
1.90
Art
1.85
1.87
1.79
Music
1.83
1.78
Alternative Education
1.80
1.71
1.81

20. Non-Parent Residents (Non-Staff)
If funding cuts are needed, how should the District budget? (Continued) Expand (3), Keep (2), Reduce (1)
Item
All Residents
Staff Residents
Parent Residents
(Non-Staff)
Non-Parent Residents (Non-Staff)
Family & Consumer Ed. (FACE)
1.80
1.86
1.83
1.77
Teacher Aides/Paraprofessionals
1.78
2.02
1.75
1.73
Summer School
1.61
1.68
Buildings/Grounds/Custodial Staff
1.85
1.7
World Language
1.74
1.87
Gifted & Talented
1.71
1.66
Athletics & Co-Curriculars
1.70
1.79
1.59
Counselors & Psychologists
1.60
2.00
1.69
1.44
Library Media (formerly called librarians)
1.55
1.89
1.43
Administration
1.64
1.41
1.37

21. Funding Priorities

22. Non-Parent Residents (Non-Staff)
To provide a quality education, please check up to five of your highest funding priorities for the next five years:
Item
All Residents
Staff Residents
Parent Residents
(Non-Staff)
Non-Parent Residents (Non-Staff)
Recruit and retain high-quality staff
61%
82%
65%
53%
Help students plan for careers, college and life after high school
50%
Increase resources focused on improving reading and math
47%
42%
49%
Maintain school facilities
41%
37%
44%
Maintain services for students with disabilities
33%
35%
25%
36%
Develop new and innovative approaches to improve student learning
32%
39%
27%
Maintain co-curricular opportunities such as athletics, forensics, school musicals, etc.
31%
20%
Maintain services for struggling students who are at-risk of not graduating
30%
28%
21%

23. Non-Parent Residents (Non-Staff)
To provide a quality education, please check up to five of your highest funding priorities for the next five years: (Continued)
Item
All Residents
Staff Residents
Parent Residents
(Non-Staff)
Non-Parent Residents (Non-Staff)
Maintain Advanced Placement (AP) course opportunities
27%
38%
21%
Improve student access to technology
22%
10%
23%
24%
Increase course offerings in electronics, engineering and architecture
20%
25%
19%
Improve school safety and security
12%
26%
18%
Maintain services for gifted and talented students
14%
11%
15%
Improve communications with our parents and community
Increase the number of students attending 2 or 4 year colleges
Maintain services for non-English speaking students 2% 1% 0% 3%

24. Funding to Support Programs and Services

25. Since 1993, the state has capped the revenues that schools can raise
Since 1993, the state has capped the revenues that schools can raise. Under current state law, a referendum is required for the District to increase revenue to fund school operations. The Tomahawk School District would need to secure a referendum averaging $3 million per year over each of the next four years to: • Maintain a high level of classes, programs and services for all students • Maintain the technology plan, which provides students with Chromebooks to share and increases wireless access and speed • Increase course offerings in electronics, engineering and architecture • Update or replace major building systems such as roofs, heating and electrical that have exceeded their service life • Pay off the remaining portion of a loan of $2.2 million that funded past building projects to lesson future tax impact and save on interest expenses The graph to the right shows the new tax rate if voters would support the proposed referendum. Even with this additional funding, the Tomahawk mill rate will remain lower than most neighboring districts as well as the state average.

26. Would you a support a $3 million referendum to help the District maintain classes, programs, technology and address facility needs for each of the next four years? Representing an estimated annual increase of $149 for each $100,000 of property value. The new tax rate would become $9.49 per thousand, which would continue to be lower than neighboring districts and the state average. All Residents

27. Would you a support a $3 million referendum to help the District maintain classes, programs, technology and address facility needs for each of the next four years? Representing an estimated annual increase of $149 for each $100,000 of property value. The new tax rate would become $9.49 per thousand, which would continue to be lower than neighboring districts and the state average. Staff Residents

28. Would you a support a $3 million referendum to help the District maintain classes, programs, technology and address facility needs for each of the next four years? Representing an estimated annual increase of $149 for each $100,000 of property value. The new tax rate would become $9.49 per thousand, which would continue to be lower than neighboring districts and the state average. Parent Residents (Non-Staff)

29. Would you a support a $3 million referendum to help the District maintain classes, programs, technology and address facility needs for each of the next four years? Representing an estimated annual increase of $149 for each $100,000 of property value. The new tax rate would become $9.49 per thousand, which would continue to be lower than neighboring districts and the state average. Non-Parent Residents (Non-Staff)

30. Additional Analysis for Support for the $3 million Referendum Percent of Resident Population Assumptions: - Non-parent/non-staff = 75% - Parents = 25% - Staff < 1% Of those responding either Definitely yes, or Probably yes: .75(40%) + .25(68%) = 47% Assuming carrying approximately 1/3 of undecided .75(47%) + .25(72%) = 53%

31. Thank you!