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I zz:ssssii mm <br />Rpf(MfMuium Q ,Hui A s <br />1) What is an operating <br />referendum and why is it <br />necessary? <br />Whit? <br />An operating referendum is a locally <br />approved property tax that comes <br />directly to our school district for day- <br />to-day school operations (i.c. sup ­ <br />plies, utilities and salaries). More <br />than 87% of Minnesota school dis­ <br />tricts depend on operating referen- <br />dums. The ballot language is deter­ <br />mined by state law and is based on a <br />per resident student dollar amount. <br />Why? <br />The operating referendum increase <br />would permit the Orono schools to <br />provide, at a minimum, the same <br />level of education for the 2006-07 <br />school year without making reduc­ <br />tions and the ability to make minor <br />restoration of past reductions. It also <br />provides optimism that we can con­ <br />tinue our high level of quality edu­ <br />cation into the future. The permission <br />came with the 2005 state legislature <br />authorizing additional local control <br />with the ability to ask residents for <br />on increase in their property taxes. <br />Why? <br />There has been an extensive planning <br />process to determine the technology <br />needs of the Orono schools. The cur­ <br />rent process started in the fall of 2004 <br />and proceeded throughout the school <br />year. The committee included employ ­ <br />ees and four community experts: <br />Mark Engebretson, chair and mem­ <br />bers Mark Jahn, Kevin Hanson and <br />Jim Smith. The process included sur­ <br />veys of our district, needs assessment <br />through focus groups (parents, stu­ <br />dents. recent graduates, administration <br />and teachers), investigation of best <br />practices, and interviewing technol­ <br />ogy leaders from districts implement­ <br />ing best practices. The process culmi­ <br />nated in an action plan listing four <br />goals and establishing hardware and <br />software, staff development and stalT- <br />ing needs, which was presented to the <br />Board of Education in June 2005. <br />3) What is a bond <br />referendum and why is it <br />necessary? <br />What? <br />A bond referendum is a hK'ally ap ­ <br />proved property tax that comes di­ <br />rectly to our school district for the <br />repayment of bonds that are sold. The <br />repayment of the bonds is similar to <br />a home mortgage that is paid Ibr over <br />time, in this case over 20 years. The <br />proceeds of the bond sale are used <br />fc.' renovation, repair, remodeling, <br />upgrading, addition, maintenance <br />and similar expenditures for our <br />buildings and grounds. <br />2) ¥(fhatis a techndogy <br />(capital pro^^ <br />referendum and why Is It <br />necessary? <br />What? <br />A capital project referendum is simi­ <br />lar to an operating referendum. In this <br />case, it is specially designated for <br />technology needs. <br />The highlights of the plan arc to com ­ <br />plete the K-12 Technology Curricu­ <br />lum with some replacement of com ­ <br />puters and continuation of the com ­ <br />mittee structure in 2005-06. In 2006- <br />07, to purchase new hardware and <br />software as well as provide staff de­ <br />velopment in conformity with the <br />technology curriculum established, <br />and expand schoolview and website <br />development. In 2007-08, provide <br />additional purchases of hardware and <br />software to support the curriculum <br />and instruction, emphasize teacher <br />focus on amplifying and transform­ <br />ing curriculum and instruction, full <br />implementation of enhanced web <br />pages including calendar applica ­ <br />tions, forms, teachei websites and <br />full implementation of schoolview <br />academic, discipline and attendance <br />functions. <br />Why? <br />The Orono .School District commis ­ <br />sioned Wold Architects and Engi­ <br />neers to develop a full analysis of <br />Orono facilities. The analysis of each <br />building categorized the required <br />work into 8 sections including: site, <br />exterior, interior, accessibility, life <br />safety, hazardous materials, mechani­ <br />cal systems and electrical systems. <br />The analysis indicates $26,185,000 <br />under priority I and2, w hichrctlccts <br />the need within 0-5 years. In addi­ <br />tion to these maintenance items arc <br />bus storage, stadium turf and air con­ <br />ditioning. It also indicates <br />$4,965,000 of maintenance needs <br />within 6 to 10 years. <br />4) Will the operating <br />referendum eliminate the <br />necessity for any <br />reductions? <br />Yes, we arc projecting that with the <br />inflationary increases of this operat ­ <br />ing referendum and continued state <br />commitment to public education, that <br />we can continue our high level of <br />quality education into the future and <br />at least for next year will not have to <br />make any reductions. <br />Pag* 2 • 2006 Rafarandum Monnalion 4