1. School District 112 Referendum Update.2
On November 4, 1997, the District 112 School Board is asking residents of School District 112 to con-
sider two questions as part of a s levy referendum election. The first question would allow District
112 to open all nine school buildings in the full of 1998 without additional budget cuts. The second
would help address three issues m the area of technology. staff troining
students and staff, improved technology su for
ff and e nt of outdated computers. Each question would ollow District 112 to
raise the additional funds for eight y ears. The followin
tions concernin this referendum. If you have additional questions Q
or comment
9 m y of your the
District through the Referendum Hotline of 391 -2574, or through our e -mail address of 112
dumC�chvsko. k 12. mn. us. referen-
Q . What is the Board asking
for on the November 4, 1997
ballot
A -The School Board proposes
two questions.
The first will allow District 112 to
raise $176.45 per student per ear
for eig ears in Y
9 y order to cover
the operating expenses of en-
in
o all nine schools i p
9 ols in 1998. The
first year that amount will raise
$1.25 million and will be used to
open Chaska Middle School West.
The second question will allow the
District to raise $56.47 per stu-
dent per year for ei ht years in
order to address tec nology
issues The first vear, that amount
will rase $400,000.
Q. Why has Chaska Middle
School been closed for two
years?
A. The Board made significant
budget adjustments in 1996
($1.8 million) following the
unsuccessful le vy referendum of
1995. Among the most signifi-
cant cuts were an increase in
class size at every grade level and
the closure of the old high
school, CMS -West. The building
has been used to house six sec-
tions of sixth grade in an effort to
ease serious overcrowding at
Chaska Middle School East. The
majority of CMS -West is empty.
Q - Why did the Board add a
technology question to the bal-
lot?
to fund the operation of all
nine buildings must pass before
the second question to fund
technology can pass. Passage of
the technology g
gy question �s con -
tingent on passage of the oper-
ating fund question.
Q. What will happen If the
referendum is not successful?
A. All nine buildings will open
in 1998 whether or not the ref-
erendum passes. The Board will
make budget cuts of E1.25 mil-
lion to cover the expenses if
additional money is not
approved in the referendum.
The Board will vote on the spe-
cific budget cuts at its
September 25 meeting to give
the community a clear picture
of the choices.
Q Why do oll nine buildings
need to be open?
A. District 112s enrollment will
grow by 24 percent through
2001. We are adding enough stu-
dents each year to fill 10 new
classrooms. The Board has voted
to open Chaska Middle School
West in 1998 -99. There are only
two funding sources for the $1.25
million needed to open CMS -W: a
successful referendum on
November 4, or general fund
budget cuts totaling $1.25 mil-
lion.
A. The District's overall technolo-
gy needs are great, but this bal-
lot question will address very spe-
cific needs the Board considers
essential. The Board will use the
funds to 1.) replace outdated
computers and other technology
(5200,000); 2.) provide improved
support to students and staff in
maintaining and better using cur-
rent technology ( 125,000); and
3.) improve teacher training in
using technology already in
schools ($75..000).
Q. Can the technology ques-
tion puss if the other doesn't?
A. No. The first ballot question
Q. How much will this
investment in education cost?
A. The first ball '
of question to
raise $1.25 million will cost
$9.83 per month or $118 year-
ly on an average market value
home of $165,000. The second
ballot question on technolo
will cost $3.16 $
I8
per month /$ 8
yearly on a home with an aver-
s e market value of $165,000.
e impact on homes valued at
more or less than $165,000
vary accordingly.
For more information, call
District 112 Community
Relations office, 368 -3607.