This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, July 29, 2011 - An online survey of residents of the Rockwood School District sent the same message that an earlier telephone poll did: A proposed tax increase that could be on the ballot later this year faces tough opposition.
And judging by hundreds of comments that survey participants added, the furor over the hiring of two top administrators by the district's new superintendent has not died down.
In the online survey, whose results are available on the district's website, the question about support for a tax increase for Rockwood was asked twice. In each case, residents were asked how they would feel about a proposal to raise taxes by 65 cents.
Each time -- once at the beginning of the survey, again after a number of other questions are asked about the quality of education in the district and other issues -- the percent of respondents in favor and those opposed came out about the same.
The first time around, it was 46 percent who said they strongly favor, favor or lean in favor against 46.5 percent who said they strongly oppose, oppose or lean against. The second time, it was 46.7 percent on the plus side and 46 percent in opposition.
Those numbers are similar to results of a telephone survey that was taken in early June, where 51.5 percent said they were against a tax increase and 42.9 percent said they were in favor.
In between the two surveys, a controversy involving hiring by Superintendent Bruce Borchers became public in a story by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It said Borchers had hired two former colleagues in Minnesota as consultants to study the district's administrative structure, then hired the pair to serve in jobs that they recommended be established. Each will be paid six-figure salaries at a time when the district has laid off other employees to deal with a budget crunch.
No questions in the online survey dealt directly with the issue or mentioned Borchers or his job performance specifically. But that didn't stop members of the public from having their say on the matter.
Two of the comments were made with names attached, as found on the Rockwood website.
John Barnett commented earlier this week: "Rockwood has enough people who care about education to get a tax increase passed, but you cannot afford anymore mistakes like the one with the superintendent and his cronies. Please use a little thought in future decisions."
And Dale Redhage said: "Reading through the comments I believe the people have spoken. Unfortunately for the kids, parents and taxpayers in this school district, I don't think this Board of Education has been listening."
More pointed were the comments made anonymously. Here's a sampling:
- "Borchers must go. He is bringing down whole district."
- "Public relations overall is a nightmare because of the recent superintendent scandal."
- "We R mad about under the table $ spent on consultants that could have gone to save teachers."
- "Gotten worse. Way to go, Bruce!"
- "Get rid of the superintendent!!!!!! What a joke! Like any of the board's decisions have been good!"
- "You communicate with the area residents by telling them what they should think of what you are doing. You DO NOT want to hear, nor do you act on what the community wants.....only what Dr. Borchers wants regardless of any other input."
- "Having a superintendent that clearly does not understand the impact of his poor decisions to pay an outrageous amount for consultants. And too arrogant to even admit it. He has done more harm to this district than he even realizes and set us back 10 years, yet he doesn't even know it."
- "The school board and superintendent have lost credibility and respect from the community and must make drastic changes and repair relationships before the community could support any kind of ballot measure. They need to focus on integrity issues and let go of their arrogance."
- "Prior to Dr. Borchers legal, but repulsive use of funds, I would rate the district much higher on all issues."
- "Paying high salaries for superintendents an then cutting teacher positions, and cutting the boy scouts out of a small meeting room. Give me a break!!"
- "Breakdown of communication from superintendent and Board of Education to parents and patrons."
In the wake of the Borchers controversy and the survey results, the board is making an attempt to improve communication. A letter sent out to district residents earlier this week, it addressed the issues of the consultants who became administrators.
"We must begin by expressing our deep regret for the controversy we created by authorizing the funds for these expenditures," it said. "Given the current economic conditions, we understand why these decisions have been questioned. We are sorry for not being more sensitive to how these decisions could be perceived."
Specifically, it said it would take these steps:
- "Require district administrators to be more specific in their descriptions of submitted budget items for the consent agenda and for contracts or purchases over $7500.00
- "Work with district attorneys to revise the Board policy that addresses consultant contracts
- "Continue to review our process for determining administrators' salaries"
The letter added:
"Rockwood is one of the best school districts in the state and the nation; however, we must continue to improve. Our students will be competing in a highly skilled, global economy of the 21st century, and we must prepare them for this future.
"We believe Dr. Borchers has this vision, and we continue to support him as he guides the district."
Board members have until the end of August to determine whether they will put a tax increase on the ballot. If they decide to do so, they then need to decide how much to ask for and when to hold the election. District spokeswoman Kim Cranston said no specific amount has been discussed, though a figure between 60 and 70 cents for each $100 of assessed valuation is the most commonly mentioned figure.
Cranston said the board will discuss the issue at its board meeting this coming Thursday, then most likely make a decision at its meeting on Aug. 18. She said the results of the survey, and the comments, will be additional information taken into account.
"This is really finding out where people are and seeing what they have to say about these issues," Cranston said.