Survey outline •  Survey included interviews with 400 registered voters in the District •  Interviews were completed in mid to late May of 2016 •  Approximate margin of error is ±4.5% 1 Who we called •  Interviews included demographic targets intended to provide a representative sample of voters in the district •  Actual interviews came very close to targets •  Cell phones were tracked, but were not a demographic target 2 Who we called: Gender Gender Balance 60% 55% 52.8% 52.8% 50% 47.2% 47.3% 45% 40% Males Females Target Surveyed Public Sector Advisors 3 Springsted Who we called: Location Geographic Balance 60% 49.0% 50% 44.2% 40% 26.8% 30% 21.0% 20% 13.6% 14.0% 0% Bloomington Perry Van Buren Other I Target Surveyed Public Sector Advisors 4 Springsted Who we called: Age Age Balance 25% 0 20% 18.1%17 5% 185% 185%193/0 193/0 16.7%16.8% 15% 10% 7.0%7.3% 5% - 0% 65+ 18-24 25?34 35-44 45-54 55-64 I Target Surveyed Public Sector Advisors 5 Springsted Who we called: Parent households Parent Balance 100% 80% 77-0% 75.5% 60% 40% 23.0% 24.5% 20% 0% Parent Non-Parent Target Surveyed Public Sector Advisors a Springsted Who we called: Cell phones Type of Phone I Cell phone I Land line Public Sector Advisors 7 Springsted Proposal: Continue the local referendum •  Respondents were asked two versions of a question about their support for continuing the existing local referendum –  Half asked about continuing the referendum and reducing tax rate and cost to property owners –  Half asked about continuing the referendum without any additional language •  Because of the smaller sample size, margin of error is higher (±6.9%) 8 Proposal: Version 1A “The budget of the Monroe County Community School Corporation includes local funds raised by a school referendum approved by voters in 2010. Later this year, the School Corporation will ask voters to continue this local school referendum. Voters will be asked to continue the existing school referendum and to reduce the tax rate and cost to property owners. Would you favor or oppose such a proposal?” 9 Proposal: Version 1B “The budget of the Monroe County Community School Corporation includes local funds raised by a school referendum approved by voters in 2010. Later this year, the School Corporation will ask voters to continue this local school referendum. Would you favor or oppose such a proposal?” 10 Initial support •  Initial support levels very strong •  Little difference in support between the two versions 11 Trends in initial support •  Initial support has varied between 65% and 72% •  Wording for initial support question has not been identical in each survey 12 Effects of information about referendum “I am going to read some statements about the funds raised by the School Corporation’s existing referendum. Please tell me whether the information in each statement would make you more likely or less likely to vote to continue the referendum. ” 13 Elements of local referendum •  Funds allow the School Corp. to attract and retain high-quality teachers. •  93% of funds support teachers and staff. •  Funds support programs at the Alternative High School. •  Funds support extracurricular activities for all students. •  Funds allow the School Corp. to provide instructional supplies and materials needed for Special Education classes. 14 Elements of local referendum (cont.) •  Funds allow the School Corp. to maintain the Bradford Woods Program and the Honey Creek Schoolhouse Program. –  Half of participants were told that Bradford Woods is an outdoor, hands-on science program, and that Honey Creek Schoolhouse is a cultural heritage program that focuses on life in 19th Century rural Monroe County. •  Funds allow the School Corp. to offer specialized services to students who need them. •  Funds allow the School Corp. to provide students with up-todate library books and digital resources. 15 Support for elements of referendum Q3: Retain High-Quality Teachers Q10: Special Education Materials Q8: Offer Specialized Services Q7A: Bradford Woods Details) Q9: Library Materials Q7B: Bradford Woods (No Details) Q4: 93% Goes to Teachers Q6: Extracurricular Activities Q5: Alternative High School 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% More Likely to Support Based on Prompt Public Sector Advisors 16 Springsted Impact of information “Now that you have heard some information about the way school referendum funds are used by the School Corporation, I want to see if this information has changed your opinion. Would you favor or oppose a proposal that would continue the School Corporation’s existing school referendum?” 17 Impact of information cont. Informed Support - All Responses 0% I Favor I Oppose I Don't Know I No Answer Public Sector Advisors 18 Springsted Impact of information (cont.) •  Average of initial support is 69.7% •  Support after information is 15% higher –  Margin of error is ±6.9% on initial, ±4.5% on informed 19 Trends in informed support •  Support after information has been growing •  Prompts about uses of funding were different in earlier surveys 20 Demographic differences •  The following slides show a quick snapshot of differences in support between demographic groups –  Gender –  Location –  Age –  Parent households –  Voter activity •  Charts show % of favorable responses after hearing information about the proposed levy 21 Demographic differences Informed Support - by Gender 100Males Females Public Sector Advisors 22 Springsted Demographic differences (com) 100Bloomington Informed Support - by Location Perry Van Buren Other Public Sector Advisors 23 Springsted Demographic differences (com) Informed Support - by Age Group 10018-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Public Sector Advisors 24 Springsted Demographic differences (com) Informed Support - by Parent Status 100Parents Alumni Parents Non-Parents Public Sector Advisors 25 Springsted Demographic differences (com) Informed Support - by Voting Activity 100Very active voters Active voters Less active/new vote rs Public Sector Advisors 26 Springsted Perceptions about the schools •  Following the questions about the referendum, participants were asked their agreement with a general value statement about public education and a more specific statement related to referendum funding: “Strong schools build strong communities.” “Referendum funds mean local students have greater opportunities for learning.” 27 Voter perceptions Strong schools, strong communities Public Sector Advisors Strong Communities - All Responses 2% I Agree I I Agree I Disagree I Disagree I Don't Know 28 Springsted Voter perceptions Local funds bring greater opportunities Greater Learning Opportunities - All Responses 1% I Agree I Agree I Disagree I Disagree I Don't Know Public Sector Advisors 29 Springsted Information sources •  At the conclusion of the survey, participants were asked how they stay informed about School Corporation events 30 Sources of information – printed •  Participants were asked which printed source they used most often: –  Regional newspaper (Indy Star, Louisville Courier Journal) –  Local newspaper (Herald Times) –  School newspaper (Daily Student) –  Mailings from the School Corporation –  Mailings from community groups –  Other print sources 31 Sources of information printed cont. Public Sector Advisors Primary Info Source (Print) 1% I Regional paper I Local paper I School paper I School mailings I Community mailings I Other I None 32 Springsted Print sources - comparison •  Same question was asked in 2015 survey •  In 2016, significant shift from regional newspapers to local newspaper •  For comparison, we looked only at participants who use print sources 33 Sources of information – electronic •  Participants were asked which electronic information source they used most often: –  School Corporation website –  School Corporation e-mails –  School Corporation social media (Facebook, Twitter) –  Other community social media accounts –  Other electronic sources –  No electronic sources 34 Sources of information electronic (com) Primary Info Source (Electronic) I District website I District e-mails I District social media I Other social media I Other I None Public Sector Advisors 35 Springsted Electronic sources - comparison •  Same question was asked in 2015 survey •  In 2016, more use of community social media, fewer responses for “Other” •  For comparison, we looked only at participants who use electronic information sources 36 Preferred sources – future •  Participants were asked how they would like to receive information in the future: –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  Streaming video Text messages to mobile devices E-mail newsletters School websites Social media posts Newspaper articles Direct mail and printed newsletters Other 37 Preferred sources future cont. Preferred Future Source AV I Streaming video I Text messages I E-mail newsletter I District website I Social media I Newspaper articles I Direct mail I Other Public Sector Advisors 38 Springsted Preferred sources – comparison •  Same question was asked in 2015 survey •  In 2016, more preference for e-mail newsletters, less for newspapers and direct mail 39 Findings •  Very strong support for referendum –  Initial support averaged 69.7% between the two questions –  Informed support was 84.8% –  Impact of information was significantly higher than margin of error 40 Findings (cont.) •  Respondents given 8 statements about uses of referendum funds –  All 8 caused 65% or more of respondents to express increased support for the proposal –  6 statements had positive impact higher than 80% •  From results, we can infer that community broadly approves of current uses of funds 41 Questions? Don E. Lifto, Ph.D. 651-223-3067 dlifto@springsted.com Stacy Childers 651-223-3083 schilders@springsted.com 42