- By Dan Veaner
- News
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Phase II addresses many needs the district has identified. Most urgent among them are new High School science classrooms and safety and security updates. As it stands the price tag for the base project will be about $32 million, depending on what the BOE decides should be included in the final package, which is subject to approval by voters. Also on the drawing board are a High School auditorium and a district-wide IP based security and phone system, both being considered for separate referendums to allow voters to decide whether they want to support these items.
While none of this is in final form, the timetable requires that the board make decisions soon, so they have scheduled a series of workshops that will help them understand all the issues. They have to serve the needs of the programs that serve Lansing students while presenting the voters with a package that makes sense to them and is something they will be willing to support.
The two workshops began to address these issues. The first dealt with finances, while the second covered the issues they will face when presenting the project to the public.
The first workshop was conducted by Bernard P. Donegan, who has been a financial consultant to the school district for many years. He laid out four goals for the BOE: 1) Maximize State building aid, 2) Maximize interest earnings on construction costs, 3) Minimize interest expense and 4) Minimize the project's impact on the tax rate.
He noted that 63% of the general fund for a year is paid for by taxpayers. But in capital projects the percentage flips -- 63% is paid by the State. So if the project is well handled it can be good for the district. Mr. Donegan also noted that the board can opt to build "non-aided" construction if they want to and the taxpayers agree. School districts get the most aid for classrooms and the least for things like offices and auditoriums.
That is why the auditorium is controversial. Lansing's music and theater programs are clearly well loved and supported by the community. Try showing up without a ticket at the High School musical and you find it has been sold out well in advance, and band and orchestra concerts are frequently SRO. But auditoriums are expensive, and the voters may or may not be willing to put their money where it's mouth is. For this reason the board is considering putting the proposed auditorium in a separate referendum to let voters decide what level of support they want to provide for the programs.
The second workshop was conducted by Karen Winters, of King and King Architects. She ran through the issues the board will face in conducting a public relations campaign to explain the project to the taxpayers. She stressed the importance of being prepared, and of the BOE unanimously backing their own proposal. "The most important thing is to get everybody on the same page," she said. "An inconsistent message can defeat the project." She stressed that the board must develop a clear, easy to understand message "in this age of sound bites."
Ms. Winters strongly recommended creating a Public Relations Committee, made from a cross-section of Lansing residents. This group would not have input into the project itself, but would help develop a public relations plan to portray the project to the community in a positive way. By including people from diverse stakeholder groups the committee would give the board a sense of what obstacles they might face in the community as well as creating advocates in different segments in Lansing.
Another strategy that was discussed was conducting a random telephone survey to get an idea of what Lansing voters would support, and what they would not be interested in supporting. This would allow the board to adjust the plan to serve program needs while at the same time increasing their chances of a positive vote. With other tax-impacting plans in town such as the proposed sewer district project, the BOE will need to maximize public support for this project.
Because of the time it takes to get projects planned and approved the BOE must make decisions about all aspects of the project soon. They discussed holding additional workshops, including one before the next school board meeting, to make sure they make the best, most informed decisions possible.
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